Repotting guide

When & how to repot Anouk French lavender (Lavandula stoechas 'Anouk')

Also called Anouk French lavender, Spanish lavender 'Anouk', Butterfly lavender 'Anouk'.

More about anouk french lavender

About Anouk French lavender

Lavandula stoechas 'Anouk' · also called Anouk French lavender, Spanish lavender 'Anouk' · herb

A compact, award-winning French lavender cultivar bearing distinctive deep-purple flower heads topped with large, vivid violet 'rabbit-ear' bracts from spring through summer. 'Anouk' flowers earlier and more prolifically than English lavenders, with a resinous, pungent fragrance. Excellent for pots, low hedging, and coastal gardens; less cold-hardy than angustifolia types.

Mature size: 45–60 cm tall (18–24 in), spreading 45–60 cm (18–24 in)

How to tell anouk french lavender needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For anouk french lavender, watch for these signs:

Roots growing out of the drainage holes, or the rootball lifting the plant proud of the rim.
Soil that has shrunk away from the pot sides and no longer holds water.
The pot is unstable because the plant has grown top-heavy.
Old, compacted, broken-down mix that stays wet too long — for a succulent that is a rot risk, so refresh it even if the pot size is fine.

For the underlying biology of a pot-bound root system and why it stalls a plant, see our guide to spotting and fixing a root-bound plant.

How often to repot anouk french lavender

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix. Anouk French lavender's growth habit — compact, bushy, woody-based evergreen subshrub; short, grey-green narrow leaves; distinctive pineapple-shaped flower heads with elongated bracts — sets the pace. A compact, award-winning French lavender cultivar bearing distinctive deep-purple flower heads topped with large, vivid violet 'rabbit-ear' bracts from spring through summer. 'Anouk' flowers earlier and more prolifically than English lavenders, with a resinous, pungent fragrance. Excellent for pots, low hedging, and coastal gardens; less cold-hardy than angustifolia types.

What size pot to step anouk french lavender up to

Use a pot only one size up — or even the same pot with fresh gritty mix if the roots have room. Anouk French lavender stores water and rots in a large pot of slow-drying soil. A tight terracotta pot that dries fast is far safer than a generous plastic one. Never up-pot a succulent by several sizes.

Not sure of the exact diameter? Our pot size calculator takes the current pot and root spread and tells you the right next size — it deliberately recommends a single step up, never a big jump.

The best time of year to repot anouk french lavender

Spring or summer, while anouk french lavender is in active growth and warm, is best — roots recover fastest then, and the plant is not sitting in cool damp soil. Avoid repotting a succulent in winter dormancy.

Step-by-step: repotting anouk french lavender

Repot dry. Do not water anouk french lavender for several days first. Working with dry roots and dry mix dramatically lowers the rot risk for a succulent.
Pick a snug, fast-draining pot. Choose terracotta one size up at most, with a drainage hole. Have gritty free-draining, lean, neutral to slightly alkaline sandy or loamy soil ready.
Tip it out and clean the roots. Slide the plant out, crumble off the old soil, and trim any black, mushy or dead roots with clean snips.
Pot into dry mix. Set anouk french lavender at its original depth in dry gritty mix, firming gently. Do not bury the stem deeper than it was.
Wait a week before watering. Leave it completely dry and out of harsh sun for about 7 days so any damaged roots callus. Only then water lightly.

Aftercare

Keep anouk french lavender completely dry and out of fierce sun for about a week so any nicked roots callus before they meet moisture; watering a freshly repotted succulent is the classic way to rot it. Then resume the normal lean, dry rhythm. Do not fertilise for about 3 weeks — fresh mix already carries nutrients and feeding freshly disturbed roots scorches them.

The right soil mix for anouk french lavender

Anouk French lavender wants free-draining, lean, neutral to slightly alkaline sandy or loamy soil. Demands sharp drainage — origin in coastal Mediterranean sands and limestone scrub. pH 6.5–7.5 preferred. In containers use a gritty, loam-based compost (e.g., John Innes No. 2 with added grit at 3:1). Avoid peat-heavy composts that retain moisture. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting anouk french lavender — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot anouk french lavender?

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix for anouk french lavender. Repot anouk french lavender every 2–3 years into a snug pot of free-draining, lean, neutral to slightly alkaline sandy or loamy soil, ideally in spring or summer. Let it sit in dry soil and do not water for about a week afterwards so any nicked roots can callus. Over-potting and watering straight away is what rots succulents.

What size pot does anouk french lavender need?

When is the best time of year to repot anouk french lavender?

Should you water anouk french lavender after repotting?

No — not straight away. Repot anouk french lavender into dry mix and wait about a week before the first watering so any damaged roots callus over. Watering a freshly repotted succulent is the single most common way to rot one.

Should you fertilise anouk french lavender after repotting?

Not immediately. Wait about 3 weeks after repotting anouk french lavender. Fresh mix already contains nutrients, and feeding freshly cut or disturbed roots burns them. Resume your normal feeding routine once you see new growth.