Root Rot in Lavender
English lavender is a fragrant Mediterranean herb and ornamental shrub beloved for its purple flowers and calming scent
Lavender care requirements
These care conditions are most relevant to root rot in Lavender. Check each one as a potential cause.
Symptoms to look for in Lavender
Roots turn brown to black and mushy, with above-ground symptoms of wilting, greying foliage, and stems that snap easily rather than bending.
Common causes in Lavender
Lavender's roots evolved for dry, sandy Mediterranean soils and rot quickly in the wet, heavy soil or excess watering common in typical garden beds — this is the single most common way to lose a lavender plant.
How to diagnose root rot in Lavender
Remove plant from pot. Healthy roots are white/tan and firm. Rotted roots are brown/black and mushy.
How to treat root rot in Lavender
Remove the plant, trim away all rotted roots with a sterilised blade, and replant into a raised bed or gritty, sandy, well-draining soil. Severely rotted plants often can't be saved.
Preventing root rot in Lavender
Plant in sandy, well-draining, slightly alkaline soil (raised beds work well in heavy-soil gardens), and avoid watering beyond the establishment period.