The number of blooms increases as healthy plants mature. If you plan to keep the plant in a container, it would prefer that the container was outside in full sun whenever temperatures allow (above freezing). The size/age of the plant and how much energy it has to devote to reproduction (blooms) ultimately determines bloom profusion. Since any energy the plant makes comes from sunshine, you should be giving your plant LOTS of it - and not through a window. Also, root maintenance, if the plant is to be left in the pot, is essential. You should let the plant go dormant over winter, lift it from the pot in spring, bare root/root prune it, and put it back in a/the pot to continue growing. If you don't maintain the roots, you can count on a plant limited in growth/vitality/bloom numbers. The plant doesn't tolerate wet feet, so count on using a very fast draining soil. The gritty mix would be perfect for this plant, and would make repotting chores easy. A 3:1:2 ratio fertilizer (examples: 24-8-16, 12-4-8, 9-3-6) used regularly is a very good choice. Al

Thanks for your input! I have had the agastache AND the lavender Munstead in the garden in the past, and not come back, either due to rotting/wetness or cold, or both. So I decided to try them in pots. To be honest, they were already-grown pots purchased locally on sale and from Bluestone Perennials, on sale last year. I love them for cutting. I am pretty sure they are doing fine out in the unheated garage...we water a little every few weeks, that's all. The Chabaud carnations I planted from seed...will bloom this summer. I winter-sowed a bunch of other annuals/perennials a few weeks ago in pots/containers. We still have tons of snow, so it will be a few months before anything gets planted out anyway. :0) Phyl

I have several lavender in some pots that did not get transplanted last year. They are STILL in the same pots, lol. I live in 6b/7a and they all stayed out on the back patio, and didn't skip a beat. My situation was the same as yours....I planted them from seed a bit late and never transplanted them to a permanent plant site. It threatens to be a colder winter this year, and I will move them to the unheated garage during the worst times.

I would second that. We are also Z9 & sunset 23. We have a rosemary bush that was here when we bought the house 21 years ago. It grows well and looks beautiful without any water or attention. A couple of years ago we replaced our grass front yard with lavender and really struggle to keep it looking nice. I had thought it would be low maintenance, but it has needed a lot of attention. We have had to replace several plants after they died and others have bald patches. Even the healthy ones need a fair amount of pruning. Both plantings are in full sun, so I can't help with the shade issue.