When to plant lavender in Chelan, WA

Plant lavender plants in Chelan Apr 1 – May 27.

Easy Plant young plants

Difficulty: Easy
Sun: Full sun
Spacing: 18 to 36 inches apart, depending on variety
Planting depth: Plant at the depth it grew in the nursery pot
Frost: English types handle about −10°F in well-drained soil
First harvest: Light blooms the first summer; full harvests from year two

Why these dates

Chelan's typical last spring frost is April 17. As a hardy perennial, this crop doesn't need to wait for that date. In the Columbia Basin and low eastern valleys, though, the soil usually isn't ready to work until about April 1.

Columbia Basin and low eastern valleys. Hot, dry summers and quick spring warm-up. Warm crops go in earlier than west of the Cascades, and irrigation matters more than rain.

How to grow lavender in Chelan

Pick a sunny spot with soil that drains well, and mix in an inch or two of compost.
Plant lavender plants Apr 1 – May 27, 18 to 36 inches apart, depending on variety. Plant at the depth it grew in the nursery pot.
Water through the first summer only. After flowering, cut plants back by about a third, but never into bare, leafless wood, which won't regrow.
Harvest: For drying, cut stems when the lowest flowers on each spike have just opened. Hang small bunches upside down in a dark, airy place.

Key numbers

6.5–8.0Soil pH
First summer onlyWater
After bloom, by a thirdPrune
Wet winter soilBiggest risk

Growing notes

What makes the difference in Northwest gardens, in plain language.

Drainage and soil

Lavender grows wild on dry, rocky hillsides, and its roots need air as much as water. In the heavy, wet soils common west of the Cascades, roots rot over winter. Plant on a mound, slope or raised bed with gravelly soil, and use gravel instead of bark mulch, which holds moisture against the crown.

Lavender likes neutral to slightly alkaline soil and very little fertilizer. Rich soil grows soft, floppy plants that are less fragrant and more likely to die in winter. Water through the first summer, then only in long droughts.

English lavender vs lavandin

English lavenders like Hidcote and Munstead are compact, very cold hardy and the best choice for cooking, with a sweet scent. Lavandins like Grosso are hybrids that grow larger, bloom a bit later and have a stronger, more camphor-like scent. They're the classic choice for drying, sachets and oil, but they're slightly less cold hardy.

Spanish lavender, with its rabbit-ear petals, is the least hardy and often dies in cold eastern winters.

Pruning and lifespan

Lavender turns woody as it ages, and it won't sprout from old, bare wood. The fix is regular pruning: right after flowering, cut each plant back by about a third, leaving green, leafy growth below the cut. Plants pruned this way every year stay rounded and full for many years.

East of the Cascades, dry summers and well-drained soils suit lavender well, but cold winter winds can dry out plants; a sheltered spot helps.

Common questions

When is the last frost in Chelan, WA?

Typically April 17. In 9 years out of 10, frost is over by April 30. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for Chelan.

Is it too late to plant lavender in Chelan?

The spring planting window runs through May 27. Potted plants can still go in later if you water them faithfully through their first summer.

How long until I can pick lavender?

Light blooms the first summer; full harvests from year two. For drying, cut stems when the lowest flowers on each spike have just opened. Hang small bunches upside down in a dark, airy place.

Why is my lavender dying?

Most often it's wet roots, from heavy soil, poor drainage, overwatering or bark mulch against the crown. Old, woody plants that were never pruned also decline. Replant in a mound of gravelly soil and prune yearly after bloom.

Can I cook with any lavender?

English lavenders like Hidcote and Munstead have the sweetest flavor and are the usual culinary choice. Lavandins like Grosso taste stronger and more bitter. Use a light hand, since a little goes a long way.

When should I prune lavender?

Right after the main bloom in summer, cutting back by about a third into leafy growth. A light tidy in spring is fine, but never cut into bare wood with no leaves, which won't regrow.

Also plant in Chelan around the same time

Planting dates for lavender in nearby areas

Wenatchee, WA Apr 1 – May 27
Omak and Okanogan, WA Apr 15 – Jun 10
Leavenworth, WA Apr 15 – Jun 10
Winthrop and Twisp, WA Apr 17 – Jun 12
Pendleton, OR Apr 1 – May 27
The Dalles, OR Apr 1 – May 27

Full planting calendar for Chelan · Lavender in every city