Garden-Share

What do you grow that "shouldn't" grow in Zone 4?

So far, I'm a garden wimp, and haven't branched out into the more exotic plants. I'm intending to grow lavender, though, and most of that is called Zone 5. I'm kind of on the cusp, so I'm hoping that a sheltered location will do the trick. Any brave Zone 4-ites with success stories?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Iowa Gardener on May 10, 2010 at 8:09am

I have tried lavender but have never had any luck with it in zone 4. I would be interested to learn if anyone in zone 4 has had it come back up.

Permalink Reply by Julie z3-4 WI on February 26, 2011 at 10:55am

yes, we are actually on the verge of zone 3 and 4 and we have had lavendar come up year after year. Maybe it depends on the variety you have tried. I am not certain which variety we have, but can probably find out. What type of soil and placement have you been planting? We have ours in a protected area near the house, alkaline soil.

Permalink Reply by Kathryn Morski, Z4 UP MI on March 7, 2011 at 5:37pm

My lavender is in a south bed next to the house. I'm hoping it will come back; tried 3 varieties including Grosso, Hidcote and Munstead, I think. We have sand, and acid with it. I'll let you know when/if I see their little noses.

Permalink Reply by Kathryn Newton on May 10, 2010 at 5:04pm

Hi. I have had a lot of luck with growing lavender in a somewhat sheltered area that gets southern sun. I did lose one big plant this last winter but the others are still okay. I lost a nice sage plant too and I don't usually have any trouble with them. I guess it was the kind of winter weather that we had. Maybe not enough snow cover for most of the winter? I love lavender!

Permalink Reply by Kathryn Morski, Z4 UP MI on May 10, 2010 at 8:18pm

I went to a garden center called Meister's in Marquette, MI, and boy, did they have great plants! I fell for some lavender and planted one (Grosso) under a glass globe I've got, and the other (Munstead) I covered with straw. I asked the girl who works there about the lavender, and she named the several varieties on the table. When I asked if they were good for this zone, she asked, "As perennials? Not all of them. The Munstead is hardiest, I think."So. We'll see - we had snow here, too, but it melted. Ice on the water buckets the last two mornings, and my four brave asparagus spears keeled over!

Permalink Reply by iris6728 on August 11, 2010 at 10:07pm

i lived in zone 5 when i grew tons of lavender. i had young children at the time and procrastinated in trimming the dead in the spring. But, eventually got to them (6 feet long by 2 feet wide was taken over in my raised flower bed). Unfortunately, one year I was jumping to get to the garden. I trimmed the dead and that's what I ended up with. So, be careful with pruning in any zone.

A sheltered location but very sunny would be great. Be sure to winter mulch so the growth doesn't start too early in the spring.

Permalink Reply by Wendy Hime on March 29, 2011 at 6:49pm

Yes! My thyme came back and lavender also. I am in Central MN. I planted in a bed next to the house.

Permalink Reply by Kathryn Morski, Z4 UP MI on April 2, 2011 at 7:56pm

Congratulations, Wendy! We're not far enough along yet for me to know about the thyme or the lavender. I'll keep you posted.

Permalink Reply by thea stoughtenger zn4,ny on August 4, 2011 at 4:08pm

I live up on the tug hill platue where lillys should not grow but my neighbours all have them . So this year i bought some easter lillys and i thought they died . well i put them out side in the pots they came in and they are comming back .So maybe i'll have some success

Permalink Reply by Janis Cramer on October 30, 2011 at 5:46pm

I live on the edge of zone 4 & 5. Alpena, MI Our winters have been getting colder than our normal. Here's a tip for growing things that shouldn't be in the area. Plant them close to the basement of your house and cover them, mulch/straw/styrofoam whatever but do it well in the winter. The warmth from the basement will bring them into to their own zone or an extra zone up. If you are a 4 it will bring it up to 5 etc....

Permalink Reply by thea stoughtenger zn4,ny on November 11, 2011 at 6:11pm

i have not tried lavender , right now i would not know where to put it in my yard i am still planning it out . But if Julie has it growing in a 3 & 4 Zone , i think i will try to figure out a place for it . does it need full sun ?

Permalink Reply by Sandra Allen on February 19, 2012 at 8:25am

I'm in the colder end of zone 4 and have grown lavender for years. Richters (Ontario) sells lavender seed for zone 4. I might try a zone 5 variety just to see!