Repotting guide

When & how to repot Green Lavender (Lavandula viridis)

Also called Green lavender, Yellow lavender, White lavender.

More about green lavender

About Green Lavender

Lavandula viridis · also called Green lavender, Yellow lavender · herb

Green lavender is an evergreen aromatic subshrub native to the dry, nutrient-poor soils of southwest Portugal (Algarve and Baixo Alentejo) and southwest Spain (Huelva and Seville), where it inhabits open scrubland and rocky slopes; it has also been introduced in Madeira and the Azores. It is distinctively unusual among lavenders for its bright green foliage and pale yellow-green flower spikes rather than the typical purple, and it carries a mild, slightly lemony fragrance. It is less cold-hardy than English lavender, requiring a sheltered, very well-drained site and performing best in mild coastal gardens or containers overwintered under glass in colder regions. According to the ASPCA, lavender (Lavandula) is toxic to cats, dogs, and horses.

Mature size: 60–80 cm tall with a spread of 50–70 cm; occasionally reaching 1 m in favourable sheltered conditions.

How to tell green lavender needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For green 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 green lavender

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix. Green Lavender's growth habit — compact, bushy, rounded evergreen subshrub with vivid bright-green, slightly hairy, narrow lanceolate leaves; flower spikes slender and upright. — sets the pace. Green lavender is an evergreen aromatic subshrub native to the dry, nutrient-poor soils of southwest Portugal (Algarve and Baixo Alentejo) and southwest Spain (Huelva and Seville), where it inhabits open scrubland and rocky slopes; it has also been introduced in Madeira and the Azores. It is distinctively unusual among lavenders for its bright green foliage and pale yellow-green flower spikes rather than the typical purple, and it carries a mild, slightly lemony fragrance. It is less cold-hardy than English lavender, requiring a sheltered, very well-drained site and performing best in mild coastal gardens or containers overwintered under glass in colder regions. According to the ASPCA, lavender (Lavandula) is toxic to cats, dogs, and horses.

What size pot to step green lavender up to

Use a pot only one size up — or even the same pot with fresh gritty mix if the roots have room. Green 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 green lavender

Spring or summer, while green 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 green lavender

Repot dry. Do not water green 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 sandy or loamy, sharply drained, neutral to slightly acidic (ph 6.0–7.0) 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 green 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 green 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 green lavender

Green Lavender wants sandy or loamy, sharply drained, neutral to slightly acidic (ph 6.0–7.0). Performs best in lean, gritty soil; improve clay-heavy ground with generous quantities of horticultural grit and coarse sand before planting. Do not mulch with organic material close to the stem base. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting green lavender — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot green lavender?

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix for green lavender. Repot green lavender every 2–3 years into a snug pot of sandy or loamy, sharply drained, neutral to slightly acidic (ph 6.0–7.0), 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 green lavender need?

When is the best time of year to repot green lavender?

Should you water green lavender after repotting?

No — not straight away. Repot green 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 green lavender after repotting?

Not immediately. Wait about 3 weeks after repotting green 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.