Lavender in Zone 10a & 10b
Lavandula angustifolia
Yes, lavender grows in zones 10a and 10b. Set out nursery plants in Oct–Apr. For a fall crop, plant out in Oct–Apr.
When to plant lavender in zone 10b
Zones 10a and 10b share the same average frost dates, so this page covers both.
Method: Buy as a start: Buy as a nursery start and transplant outside. It's slow or unreliable from seed, so most gardeners skip seed-starting it entirely.
| Window | Fall window |
|---|---|
| Start indoors | Not started from seed; buy as a nursery start |
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Oct–Apr |
| Estimated harvest | ~100 days after transplanting |
Spacing: 1 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 1-2.5 ft.
Zone 10b dates sourced from growinginthegarden.com.
Fall window: the last sowing date is the average first frost minus days to maturity, the method in Purdue Extension's fall garden guide, which lists lavender for late-summer planting.
Plant alongside it in zone 10b
These go outside within two weeks of lavender in zone 10b, so one planting day can cover them.
Lavender is grown as much for its fragrance and pollinator appeal as for culinary use, and it's one of the few herbs on this site where getting the soil conditions right matters more than getting the timing right.
How lavender fits zone 10's season
Zone 10b's frost-free window runs about 324 days, from January 30 to December 20. Lavender goes in during the fall and grows through the winter, so it isn't limited by this window: expect first harvest about 100 days after planting.
Lavender planting windows in every zone
Zone 10b is highlighted. Useful for comparing against a neighbouring zone, or for a garden somewhere else.
| Zone | Start indoors | Sow or plant out | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5a & 5b | Buy as a start | May 17–May 24 | Aug 25–Sep 1 |
| 6a & 6b | Buy as a start | May 2–May 9 | Aug 10–Aug 17 |
| 7a & 7b | Buy as a start | Apr 17–Apr 24 | Jul 26–Aug 2 |
| 8a & 8b | Buy as a start | Apr 1–Apr 8 | Jul 10–Jul 17 |
| 9a & 9b | Buy as a start | Feb 22–Mar 1 | Jun 2–Jun 9 |
| 10a & 10bFall window (your zone) | Buy as a start | Oct–Apr | ~100 days after transplanting |
Harvest dates are about 100 days after the sow or plant-out date.
Good companions
- Cabbage: Reputed to repel moths, aphids, and whiteflies near brassicas.
Where to buy lavender starts
Lavender is almost always bought as a nursery start rather than seeded. Check a local nursery or garden center; we haven't vetted online start/plant suppliers yet.
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See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing lavender" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
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Growing Lavender in USDA zone 10b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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