The phrase Deadhead has a whole different meaning for those of us who are gardeners, rather than the general public out there. If you google either Dead Head or deadhead the search results will return information on fans of the Grateful Dead not the act of removing spent blooms from plants. It takes typing in ‘Gardening Deadhead’ to get results that will be helpful in learning more about keeping plants in bloom.
I am often the person who answers questions sent in by gardeners and recently one of the most common questions has been when and how to deadhead specific plants. In this article I will give a brief summary of why deadheading is sometimes necessary, how you should deadhead and which Proven Winners® plants need deadheading.
First, what exactly is deadheading? This gardening term simply means to remove the old spent blooms including any developing seed from a plant to help keep it blooming longer.
Your next question is likely to be “Why does a plant bloom more if you remove old flowers?” In the grand scheme of things flowers are meant to ensure survival of the species. All of the various blooms that nature developed (not plant breeders) are an attempt to ensure that seeds are produced and the next generation of plants develops. In some cases, once seed has been produced, thus ensuring the survival of the species, the plant will stop blooming since there is no reason to put energy into blooming any longer.
It was probably a gardener that figured out removing old flowers before they produce seed will keep plants blooming longer. This can be a rather time consuming endeavor, but many times is considered a labor of love. In more recent times, plant breeders have put a lot of effort into increasing the blooming time of plants. Someone then realized that sterile plants, those that do not produce seed, will bloom continuously even when you don’t deadhead. These plants keep on trying, unsuccessfully, to produce seed so they keep producing flowers. Rather frustrating for the plant, but easy for the gardener.
As time has gone on plant breeders have put a lot of effort into choosing plants that will continue to bloom without deadheading. Sometimes this is because the flowers are sterile and sometimes it is simply because it is possible to choose plants who are prolific bloomers despite setting seed. Proven Winners® tries to select plants that are prolific bloomers, but still are “low maintenance,” which generally means that they don’t need to be deadheaded. Another part of “low-maintenance” refers to the fact that many of our plants are “self-cleaning”. This simply means that wind or other factors will cause the flowers to either blow off the plant or simply melt away leaving no old flower to remove. Now if only my car was self-cleaning!
Choosing plants that don’t need deadheading would certainly be the easiest route to continuous flowers. However, in some cases there will be a plant you can’t do without, even though deadheading is required, or perhaps the sight of old blooms still hanging on to plants will be unsightly enough that you want to remove them anyway. In these cases knowing how to properly deadhead will be necessary.
Deadheading, the process of removing spent blooms from plants, is a common garden chore While deadheading encourages repeat blooming on many flowers, some plants do just fine without this extra pruning When pressed for time, gardeners will appreciate these 10 easy-care flowers that don’t need deadheading.
Begonias
Most begonias (Begonia spp.) are self-cleaning plants that naturally drop their faded flowers. The petite blooms cover begonia plants all season long without requiring deadheading. These carefree flowers come in a rainbow of colors including pink, red, orange, yellow, and white. Grow begonias in part sun areas with rich, well-draining soil.
Impatiens
Another shade-loving flower, impatiens (Impatiens walleriana) produce abundant blooms in shady gardens with little upkeep From standard impatiens to the New Guinea hybrids, these flowering annuals shed their spent blooms on their own. Allowing the plants to self-clean eliminates the risk of spreading disease when deadheading Impatiens thrive in organically-rich soil and bright shade.
Million Bells
Million bells (Calibrachoa spp.) are a go-to choice for pots and hanging baskets. The mini petunia-like blooms cover trailing stems, no deadheading required. These carefree annuals are self-cleaning, meaning the plants drop their own spent blossoms. Available in a spectrum of colors, million bells attract hummingbirds and butterflies all season long. Site them in full sun with average to poor drainage.
Angelonia
Heat and drought tolerant angelonia produces tall spikes densely packed with snapdragon-like blooms. Ranging from white and pink to purple shades, the flowers bloom continuously from late spring through fall without deadheading. The low-maintenance plants are self-cleaning and withstand heat and humidity that fades many summer flowers. Grow angelonia in full sun and provide average to dry soil.
Lantana
Lantana (Lantana camara) is a tough-as-nails flowering shrub that pumps out flower clusters non-stop. The tropical-looking blooms come in fiery combinations like red, orange, yellow, pink, and white. As new flowers open, the old blooms drop off on their own. Lantana makes an easy care foundation plant for beds, borders, and containers. Site it in full sun to part shade with average to sandy soil.
Coreopsis
Also called tickseed, coreopsis produces abundant daisy-like flowers in sunny gardens. The bushy plants are covered in golden yellow, mahogany red, or bicolor blooms much of the year. While deadheading coreopsis encourages more flowering, these hardy perennials get by just fine without it. Allow spent blooms to decorate the plants or crush the dried seed heads to promote natural reseeding. Provide coreopsis with average to sandy, well-drained soil.
Russian Sage
Known for its airy blue flower wands, Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) blooms for months on end in summer. The lavender-blue flower spikes combine beautifully with yellows, oranges, and reds. As flowers fade, the calyxes remain on the stem, eliminating the need for deadheading. Prune plants back in late winter to keep them shapely. Russian sage thrives in full sun and dry soil.
Blanket Flower
Blanket flower (Gaillardia) produces daisy-like flowers with red and yellow petals radiating from a reddish center. Blooming from early summer to frost blanket flower pumps out flowers without deadheading. The spent blooms dry on the plants adding ornamental value. Birds also like the ripe seeds. Blanket flowers prefer full sun exposure and average to sandy soil with good drainage.
Verbena
Verbena is prized for its vivid flower colors that stand up to summer heat. The petite blooms completely blanket verbena plants in shades of red, pink, purple, white, and blue. Flowering from spring through fall, verbena rarely needs deadheading to keep the blossoms coming. Pruning stimulates bushy growth but isn’t required for reblooming. Verbena thrives in full sun with average to sandy, well-drained soil.
Sedum
Sedum produce a flush of pink, red, or white flowers in late summer to fall. The blooms appear atop succulent foliage in varying shapes and textures. You needn’t bother deadheading sedum, as the spent flowers dry on the stems, providing winter interest. Birds also like to feast on the seed heads. Sedum grows in full sun and average to dry soil. Well-drained soil is essential.
Take a break from deadheading by growing these 10 low-maintenance flowers in your garden. Their self-cleaning habits and continuous blooming eliminate the need for pinching off spent blossoms. Site them properly and they’ll flower their hearts out without demanding constant grooming. You can enjoy their carefree beauty without labor-intensive deadheading.
Plants that bury their dead
This simply means the new flowers will quickly cover the old flowers, so no deadheading is necessary.
- Ageratum Artist® – This is not necessarily true of other series of Ageratum.
- Osteospermum Bright Lights®
- Sanvitalia Sunbini®
What is the difference between deadheading and pruning?
Deadheading and pruning are often confused, but they serve different purposes in the garden. Deadheading is the simple act of removing faded flowers to encourage more blooms. Its a quick task you can do with pruning snips as you walk through your garden. Pruning, on the other hand, involves more extensive trimming to shape the plant and promote overall health.
25 Low Maintenance Flowers That Don’t Need Deadheading
FAQ
What flower do you not have to deadhead?
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Additional Information |
|---|---|---|
| Star Flowers | Isotoma | Annual |
| Dead Nettle | Lamium | Perennial |
| Shrub Verbena | Lantana | Perennial |
| Lobelia | Lobelia | Annual |
What flowers are good for hanging baskets without deadheading?
Supertunias don’t need deadheading. They bloom nonstop as they trail over the edges of their pots and provide months of color. Superbells® Calibrachoa, Superbena® Verbena and Supertunia® Petunias are a classic trio to create fantastic hanging baskets.
What is the lowest maintenance flower?
CATMINT (Nepeta spp.)
Nepeta is one of the best low maintenance perennials, with soft gray-green foliage and blue, lavender, or white tubular flowers that bloom for months. Plants are exceptionally cold hardy, tolerant of most soils, and need little supplemental fertilizer or watering.
Are there any petunias that don’t need deadheading?
The Supertunia® series of petunias, part of the Proven Winners® plant line, are extremely vigorous bloomers that have the advantage of being self-cleaning, so no deadheading is needed.