The poisonous Japanese lavender heather does not have much in common with real lavender, although its name suggests otherwise. Anyone who cherishes and cares for it will enjoy it for a long time. But only if it survives the winter
Is the Japanese lavender heather hardy?
The Japanese lavender heather is hardy and can withstand frost down to -23 °C. In winter it needs a semi-shady to shady location, protection from winter sun and frost protection in the pot. Make sure that the soil does not dry out and that the plant is watered when necessary.
The Central European winter is survived
You can rest assured: the Japanese lavender heather is prepared for the Central European winter. It can tolerate frost down to -23 °C. However, it can sometimes happen that it does not survive the winter. What could be the reason?
In the bucket: This requires frost protection
A Japanese lavender heather that was in a pot or bucket on the balcony or terrace can freeze to death in the winter. For this reason, all Japanese lavender heathers in pots/buckets should be provided with frost protection in late autumn.
How to do it:
- shorten shoots that are too long and thin
- Set fertilizer doses from August
- water abundantly until late autumn
- From the end of October, cover the pot with fleece (€12.00 on Amazon), bubble wrap or jute
- place the packed pot on a wooden block on the wall of the house
Beware of the winter sun
It's not just shade bells in pots that are at risk during the cold season. Shadow bells that are in the blazing sun in winter (the sun is lower in winter) can also suffer if there is deep frost at the same time as the sunshine. The flower buds and also young shoots can be destroyed by the interaction of frost and sun.
To prevent this, you should plant your Japanese lavender heather in a partially shaded to shady location as a precaution. If it is exposed to the winter sun, it should be covered with leaves or brushwood. From February onwards, the protective cover can be removed again so that sprouting is not hindered.
Don't let the soil dry out
It is also crucial to survive the winter that the soil of this evergreen plant does not dry out. It's not uncommon for people to feel like they don't have to care for their plants in the winter. But if there is drought, this evergreen plant needs water.
Tips & Tricks
In cooler and not wind-protected locations, the Japanese lavender heather should always be protected in winter. The cool and dry winds could damage their leaves, among other things.
