Coneflower Deadheading Guide – What To Cut and What To Leave

I’ve written countless deadheading guides for roses, hydrangeas, and other flowering shrubs, but never one for coneflowers. 

Realizing that someone might mistakenly prune coneflowers the same way as other flowers, I figured it was time to change that. So here it is: a deadheading guide made specifically for coneflowers.

In today’s article, not only will we go over a general coneflower deadheading guide, but also tackle difficult questions like what to cut and what to leave behind. 

Let’s jump straight into it, shall we? 

Why Deadheading Coneflowers Helps Them Bloom Longer?

To figure out why deadheading works for helping blooms last longer, we first need to understand what deadheading actually does to a plant on a deeper level. 

In the simplest words, by removing spent flowers, you help your plants redirect energy away from a less useful cause, like seed production, to something more important, like flower production.

Deadheading impacts not only how your coneflowers will eventually turn out, but also their health and self-seeding tendencies.

And if you’re also growing petunias, take a look at our article on how to properly deadhead petunias for longer-lasting blooms, they benefit just as much from regular deadheading.

What Exactly Should You Cut…& What Should You Leave?

First and foremost, for deadheading, you must remove all spent flowers. These spent flowers will have faded colors and super dry and crispy petals that won’t even look appealing enough to keep in the garden. 

However, you must leave healthy flower buds alone and allow them to develop at their own pace. Some amount of basal foliage and seed heads can also stay. 

Step-by-Step: How To Deadhead Coneflowers Like A Pro

While many blogs and articles on the internet might make deadheading out to be something very complex and complicated, it’s really not.

Proper deadheading can make a big difference in the longevity of your blooms and how tidy they will look going forward.  Here’s how to do it right:

Before we start the step-by-step, I think you’ll also like this article on how to properly deadhead petunias for longer-lasting blooms.

Step 1: Wait until most of the flower heads are fading

Generally speaking, the best time to deadhead coneflowers is when their petals have shriveled up or dried completely. And, an even better indicator can be the slow browning of the central cone.

Try not to remove any flowers that still have relatively vibrant petals or appear to be forming new buds. 

Step 2: Use clean and sharp pruners/scissors

For all the snipping and cutting work, you want to use sharp and sterilized garden tools. Snip the stem about one-fourth of an inch above the next set of leaves or a side bud, encouraging side shoots and potentially a set of new flowers.

In case there’s no bud formation, simply cut your coneflowers back to a healthy leaf node.

Step 3: Leave healthy, unopened buds below the cut

Coneflowers tend to offer multiple buds along the same stem. Whenever you’re cutting, always check below the spent flower, as there may very well be more flowers on the way.

And if you’re also growing geraniums, check out this quick guide to deadheading geraniums properly to keep them blooming strong too.

Step 4: Collect mature seed heads intentionally (optional)

If you want to save the seeds or feed birds, it may be a good idea to leave some cones to dry fully on the stem. These can dry through fall and winter, allowing you to use them however you want afterwards.

Step 5: Get rid of faded blooms if they’re diseased

Healthy plant parts and materials can go into a compost bin, but if you notice obvious signs of fungal disease or any other serious problem, discard them completely to prevent unwanted spreading.

Bonus Tip: Deadhead your coneflowers every 5-8 days during the period of peak blooming in order to keep the plant flowering consistently. You absolutely DO NOT have to do it daily, but just often enough to keep heavy seed formation in control.

When Is It Best To Deadhead?

For most people, deadheading coneflowers throughout summer during active blooming would be ideal.

However, this would vary greatly depending on the region and climate conditions. You can also choose to go for a complete winter prune or leave some seeds for birds. 

And if you’re growing dahlias too, here’s a helpful guide on when and how to deadhead them for continuous blooms.

Common Mistakes With Coneflower Deadheading

Let’s Conclude

The concept of deadheading has been around for centuries, and there’s a reason why it’s so popular among flower gardeners. Today, people seem to have made it very complicated when it’s really not. 

There are minimal guidelines to follow, and if you’re passionate, you can get very creative with it. Know the rules, follow them to some extent, but definitely try to play around with things; it makes deadheading so much more fun. 

And if you’re wondering which flowers benefit most from this technique, take a look at this helpful guide on the basics of deadheading.