You’ve probably heard that lavender is a sensitive plant, but what does this mean in terms of your garden? It’s important to understand how much sun lavender needs in order to grow properly. If you don’t give it the right amount of light, your plants may not reach their full potential and could even die. So before planting or moving your lavenders, make sure they’re getting enough sunlight.
How Much Sun Does Lavender Need?
You can grow lavender in two ways: in full sun or partial shade. If you have a sun-drenched spot, lavender will love it there. If not, though, don’t worry—lavender will do just fine in light shade as long as it gets at least six hours of direct sunlight each day.
On the other hand, if you want to grow your lavender plant in deep shade or in full shade conditions (where no direct sunlight reaches the plant), then your best bet is to grow it indoors.
In general, lavender plants prefer full sun but they can manage with some light shade; however they won’t tolerate deep shade at all and will only survive in partial shadow if they’re given lots of water and good soil drainage.
Does Lavender Prefer Full Sun?
Lavender prefers full sunlight, but can tolerate partial shade. If you want to keep your lavender compact and well-branched, avoid too much shade. But if you want to encourage a more open plant with longer flowers, then partial shade is the way to go.
As with most plants, lavender needs at least six hours of direct sunlight per day in order for its stems and leaves to take advantage of all the nutrients they need (this is called photosynthesis).
If you’re growing your lavender on a patio or balcony that’s shaded by overhanging trees or buildings during part of the day (for example, in the morning), then give it as many hours as possible without any shade at all before noon—then bring it inside when needed so that it gets as many hours under natural light as possible before going into its dormant period for wintertime.
Can Lavender Grow in Shade?
You’ll need to give lavender the right amount of sun to thrive. Although it can grow in partial shade, you will get more blooms and a healthier plant if you give it full sunlight.
Lavender plants prefer 6 hours of sunlight per day, but they will tolerate 4 hours as long as they are not shaded by trees or buildings. If your lavender is in a very shady area and does not get enough sunlight, try planting it near a south-facing wall where there is reflected light from the sun during certain times of day (morning or evening).
Where Does Lavender Grow Best?
Lavender is a Mediterranean plant, so it prefers full sun and does not tolerate very hot or windy conditions. If you live in an area that has cold winters, lavender can be grown as an annual or in containers that are brought indoors during the winter months.
If your garden space only gets partial shade, consider planting lavender underneath taller shrubs such as lilac, hydrangea or Japanese maple trees. You may also choose to plant it next to taller perennials like yarrow or artemisia (wormwood).
Can Lavender Get Too Much Sun?
Lavender is a sun-loving plant that needs at least six hours of sunlight per day. If you get more than this, the lavender will grow too tall and leggy.
This can cause the lavender to die back in the winter when it’s not getting enough light for photosynthesis to occur, so make sure you give your lavender adequate space and distance from other plants so that it gets plenty of light!
Signs Your Lavender Isn’t Getting Enough Sunlight
If you notice signs that your lavender isn’t getting enough sun, here are some things to look out for:
- The leaves are yellow or splotchy
- Leaves are small and narrow
- Stems are tall and thin, spindly, weak, and easily breakable
- Plants may have few flowers or buds on them at all times of the year
Conclusion
We hope this article has helped you understand how much sun your lavender needs. As we’ve covered, lavender likes full sun but can also grow in partial shade.
