Doesn’t deadheading sound a little… extreme? As I stand eyeing my roses with pruners in hand, it’s hard not to feel like the Queen of Hearts. I shiver, getting ready to declare, “Off with their heads!” And for many plants, like roses, that’s exactly the right command to boost new flowers.
But here’s a secret that might just save a few flower heads this spring: not every plant benefits from this royal decree. So before you get snippy, explore which flowers you’d better leave alone, and why.
Deadheading Isn’t Always the Right Move
The impulse to tidy up spent blossoms is strong, whether you have OCD or not. You can often hear that removing fading flowers directs the plant’s energy into producing new ones instead of forming seeds.
This is indeed excellent advice for many annuals and re-blooming perennials. However, for a select group of spring flowers, the right, smart choice is going against this conventional wisdom.
Why These Flowers Are Better Left Alone? It’s Simple!
The reasons some flowers prefer to be left untouched vary, but they generally:
It further means that deadheading these plants removes the very buds that would produce next year’s flowers. Many of them rely on their spent flowers to produce seeds, ensuring a new generation without any effort from your side. More, leaving seed heads intact offers a vital food source for wildlife when other food becomes scarce.
Also, the no-snip policy is key for bulbs and early bloomers. The leaves continue to photosynthesize and send energy down to the roots or bulbs. Cutting them back too soon deprives your plant of this vital energy storage.
8 Spring Flowers You Shouldn’t Deadhead — and What to Do Instead
A-head, you’ll find a list of 8 spring flowers you shouldn’t guillotine, along with what you should do instead.
1. Lilacs (Syringa)
They’re the ones that bloom on old wood. If you cut off spent flowers you risk removing next year’s flower buds and a diminished display. So, prune lightly after blooming if you need to shape it, but focus only on removing dead or diseased branches.
Bonus tip: Let spent flowers drop naturally; birds may perch and forage on the stems.
2. Peonies
You might be tempted to pinch those spent peony blossoms right away, but hold off! Faded flowers actually help the plant channel its energy into root growth. So, instead of immediate snipping, just wait until the petals fall naturally, then you can go ahead and remove only the flower heads.
Bonus tip: Don’t cut back the foliage too soon. Peony leaves are diligently storing energy for next year’s flower exibition.
And if you really want to give your peonies a boost, take a look at our peonies fertilizing guide, it can help you keep them blooming strong all season.
3. Bleeding Heart (Dicentra)
You don’t even need to point your snippers at them, because Dicentra dies back naturally after flowering. Sometimes, you might even get a slight rebloom if conditions are just right. Instead, just let their foliage yellow and wither on its own. Cut it back in the summer once it’s completely dormant and faded away.
Bonus tip: Leave them alone and they’ll reward you with self-seeding, which translates to more charming little hearts popping up around your garden in the years to come!
4. Columbine (Aquilegia)
Don’t take off the granny’s bonnet if you want them to spread their cheer and naturalize through your garden. Unique spurred flowers are as popular as they’re pretty, and here’s a secret: Columbine is an enthusiastic self-seeder.
Despite that, you can either collect the distinct seed pods for future planting or simply leave them on the plant and let nature do the work.
Bonus tip: Beyond their charming looks, Columbine blooms are fantastic support for early-season pollinators!
5. Alliums
Even when your dramatic allium globes fade, don’t rush to snip them! Their dried seed heads are anything but spent. Just leave these stately figures until late summer or even early autumn. If you want a tidier look, you can cut them back then, but many gardeners prefer their unique presence throughout the dormant season.
Bonus tip: Ornamental onions they may be, but birds, especially finches, often flock to them to feast on the seeds. Who knew dried blooms could be so a-peeling?
6. Hellebores
Hellebores have a remarkable quality of aging beautifully, which we can all envy.
Often called the “Lenten Rose,” they gracefully transform into intriguing, papery seed heads as they fade. They are also treasured for their early blooms that bravely stare in the face of chill weather. So, focus your efforts on trimming only any old or damaged foliage.
Bonus tip: Should you leave the flower stalks with their seeds in place, you might be delightfully surprised to find new hellebore seedlings popping up, expanding your collection for free!
7. Foxglove (Digitalis)
Foxgloves are biennials. They complete their life cycle in two years, flowering in the second year. Thus, to ensure their reliable return, don’t deadhead all their stalks. The trick here is selective deadheading. You can snip off some of the spent flower stalks, but make sure to let at least one go to seed.
Bonus tip: Those tiny seeds are surprisingly effective at helping the new generation return year after year without any extra effort from you.
8. Tulips (species types)
Resist the immediate snipping impulse with those charming species tulips that reliably grace your garden year after year. Yank the whole flower and stalk too soon, and you’ll rob the bulb of vital energy. That stored power is precisely what will feed them next year.
Your task is simple: just pinch or snip off the spent flower head itself. Leave the stem and, crucially, all the green leaves completely untouched.
Bonus tip: Seemingly insignificant leaves are energy factories busily photosynthesizing, pumping nourishment back into the bulb.
When You Can Deadhead – Know the Timing
All this doesn’t mean you’re forever banned from your snippers. The truth is, most of the plants on this hands-off list can be cleaned up later in the season. Cutting back too soon is the real culprit, as it can put plants under significant stress.
The crucial insight here is waiting for the right moment. So always remember to consider the plant’s full seasonal cycle, not just how it looks in the flush of spring.
While the general advice to deadhead often holds true, the exceptions prove that a little patience is precisely what is needed to bridge the gap between common rules and thriving plants. It’s truly a growth opportunity!
