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Hidcote Blue Lavender Plants & Plugs - Lavandula angustifolia
Zone, tested pH, sun and drainage are evaluated independently.
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Step 1 · Start with the official map
Find your USDA growing zone.
Search your location on the map. Then confirm the exact zone so the rest of this guide can respond to you.
- 1Search or zoom
- 2Select your location
- 3Confirm the zone below
Official USDA 2023 interactive experienceOpen full screen ↗
What the number means
Select a zone to see its 5°F average annual extreme-minimum temperature band.
USDA zones use 1991–2020 weather data. They do not measure the coldest temperature that can ever occur, summer heat, humidity, freeze timing or soil performance.
Step 2 · Explore the site conditions
Representative model · measured in feetA growing zone is only the beginning.
Explore a measured educational parcel, then enter evidence from the actual planting site. The model is representative—not parcel data.
Parcel320 × 220 ftModeled relief6.8 ftRaised bed6 inMature plant3 ft W × 2 ft H
Rainfall visualization
Accessible model description and measurements
| Element | Model measurement | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Parcel | 320 × 220 ft | Demonstration footprint, not the visitor’s property |
| Relief | 6.8 ft maximum | Illustrates runoff toward a modeled low point |
| Raised bed | 6 in high | Extension-backed production example; final design requires a site check |
| Mature lavender | Up to 3 ft wide × 2 ft high | Representative English lavender form |
Conditions-aware recommendations
Browse all live plantsPlants matched to the evidence you provide.
Cold-hardiness is a gate, not a guarantee. Missing inputs stay visibly incomplete.
Confirm a USDA zone to filter these plants. Add soil and site evidence for a more useful explanation.
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Live Plants
Hidcote Lavender Live Plants & Plugs - Lavandula angustifolia
Zone, tested pH, sun and drainage are evaluated independently.
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Alba Lavender Plants & Plugs - Lavandula × intermedia (AKA White Grosso)
Zone, tested pH, sun and drainage are evaluated independently.
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Munstead Lavender Plants & Plugs - Lavandula angustifolia
Zone, tested pH, sun and drainage are evaluated independently.
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Melissa Lavender Plants & Plugs - Lavandula angustifolia
Zone, tested pH, sun and drainage are evaluated independently.
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Quinault Strawberry - Bare Root Plant
Zone, tested pH, sun and drainage are evaluated independently.
View plantLearn the why
Growing-zone education beyond a colored map.
Short answers open into practical guidance and primary sources, without hiding uncertainty.
01What a USDA zone actually measures
The 2023 USDA map is based on the average coldest winter night of the year, using 1991–2020 weather data. Each zone spans 10°F and each half zone (a or b) spans 5°F. It says nothing about summer heat, humidity, rainfall or soil.
02Why your yard can differ from the map
Slopes, low spots, buildings, pavement, wind and nearby water all create small pockets that run warmer or colder than the map. Cold air settles in low ground, so a hilltop and the bottom of the same field can behave like different zones.
03Wet winters are harder on lavender than cold
Lavender handles cold far better than wet roots. In Michigan, more plants are lost to soggy soil in late winter and spring than to low temperatures. Plant in fast-draining soil, on raised beds or mounds, and keep the crown out of standing water.
04Test your soil before you amend it
Lavender prefers neutral to slightly alkaline soil, around pH 6.5 to 8. A soil map is a starting point, but only a test of your own planting area tells you whether lime is needed. Your county extension office can point you to an affordable soil test.
05English lavender or lavandin?
English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) cultivars such as Hidcote and Munstead are generally the most cold-hardy. Lavandins (Lavandula × intermedia), such as Phenomenal and Grosso, grow larger and are prized for oil and bundles. Hardiness varies by cultivar, so check each plant's listed range.
06When to plant in Michigan
Plant in spring once the soil can be worked and hard freezes are past, so roots can establish before winter. Plants set out late in the season go into winter with small root systems and are more likely to heave out of the ground or rot.
