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Most get this wrong. Deadhead or not?
✅ 10 Flowers to Deadhead (Do It!)
Deadheading these flowers encourages more blooms, prolongs the flowering season, or improves overall appearance.
1. Petunias
Petunias tend to get leggy and sparse if not deadheaded. Removing the faded blooms encourages continuous flowering and keeps the plant looking tidy.
Petunias tend to get leggy and sparse if not deadheaded. Removing the faded blooms encourages continuous flowering and keeps the plant looking tidy.
2. Zinnias
Zinnias respond very well to deadheading. It encourages more blooms and prevents the plant from diverting energy into seed production.
Zinnias respond very well to deadheading. It encourages more blooms and prevents the plant from diverting energy into seed production.
3. Geraniums (Pelargoniums)
Regular deadheading promotes more blooms and prevents the stems from getting bare. It also reduces disease risk from decaying flowers.
Regular deadheading promotes more blooms and prevents the stems from getting bare. It also reduces disease risk from decaying flowers.
4. Marigolds
Deadheading marigolds keeps them blooming vigorously and maintains their bright, bushy appearance.
Deadheading marigolds keeps them blooming vigorously and maintains their bright, bushy appearance.
5. Cosmos
While they’ll self-seed easily, deadheading cosmos results in a longer bloom period and better flower production throughout the season.
While they’ll self-seed easily, deadheading cosmos results in a longer bloom period and better flower production throughout the season.
6. Coneflowers (Echinacea)
Early in the season, deadheading can promote a second flush of blooms. Later in the season, leave some for birds and winter interest.
Early in the season, deadheading can promote a second flush of blooms. Later in the season, leave some for birds and winter interest.
7. Salvia
Spent flowers should be trimmed back to the next set of leaves to encourage fresh blooms and prevent the plant from going to seed too soon.
Spent flowers should be trimmed back to the next set of leaves to encourage fresh blooms and prevent the plant from going to seed too soon.
8. Snapdragons
Though short-lived in hot climates, deadheading can prolong blooming and promote bushier growth.
Though short-lived in hot climates, deadheading can prolong blooming and promote bushier growth.
9. Delphiniums
After the first flowering, cutting back spent blooms can trigger a second, smaller flush later in the season.
After the first flowering, cutting back spent blooms can trigger a second, smaller flush later in the season.
10. Daylilies (Hemerocallis)
Deadheading individual spent blooms (which only last a day) keeps the plant tidy. Removing entire spent stalks can also improve appearance and promote reblooming in some varieties.
Deadheading individual spent blooms (which only last a day) keeps the plant tidy. Removing entire spent stalks can also improve appearance and promote reblooming in some varieties.
🚫 10 Flowers You Should NOT Deadhead
These plants either don’t benefit from deadheading, self-clean, or need their seedheads for aesthetic, reproductive, or ecological purposes.
1. Vinca (Periwinkle)
Modern varieties are self-cleaning, meaning they drop their own spent blooms. Deadheading doesn’t improve flowering and is unnecessary.
Modern varieties are self-cleaning, meaning they drop their own spent blooms. Deadheading doesn’t improve flowering and is unnecessary.
2. Begonias (Wax and Tuberous)
Begonias are tidy plants that don’t require deadheading. They continuously bloom and shed old flowers naturally.
Begonias are tidy plants that don’t require deadheading. They continuously bloom and shed old flowers naturally.
3. Impatiens
These shade-lovers are also self-cleaning and do not benefit from deadheading. They keep blooming without intervention.
These shade-lovers are also self-cleaning and do not benefit from deadheading. They keep blooming without intervention.
4. New Guinea Impatiens
Like their cousins, New Guineas drop their spent blooms on their own. Extra handling can actually damage their soft stems.
Like their cousins, New Guineas drop their spent blooms on their own. Extra handling can actually damage their soft stems.
5. Coleus (grown for foliage)
While not grown for flowers, any blooms that do appear are better pinched off early to maintain bushy growth. Deadheading for bloom longevity isn’t relevant here.
While not grown for flowers, any blooms that do appear are better pinched off early to maintain bushy growth. Deadheading for bloom longevity isn’t relevant here.
6. Lantana
Modern varieties often don’t require deadheading and will bloom continuously. If berries are forming, they may be left for birds.
Modern varieties often don’t require deadheading and will bloom continuously. If berries are forming, they may be left for birds.
7. Calibrachoa (Million Bells)
Closely related to petunias but self-cleaning, these little flowers don’t need deadheading and still bloom profusely.
Closely related to petunias but self-cleaning, these little flowers don’t need deadheading and still bloom profusely.
8. Sweet Alyssum
Although some gardeners deadhead to keep them tidy, it’s usually not necessary. Sweet alyssum reseeds and often reblooms without intervention.
Although some gardeners deadhead to keep them tidy, it’s usually not necessary. Sweet alyssum reseeds and often reblooms without intervention.
9. SunPatiens
A hybrid of impatiens, these plants self-clean and do not need deadheading to continue blooming strongly.
A hybrid of impatiens, these plants self-clean and do not need deadheading to continue blooming strongly.
10. Torenia (Wishbone Flower)
Another self-cleaning plant that continues blooming throughout the season without the need for pruning or deadheading.
Another self-cleaning plant that continues blooming throughout the season without the need for pruning or deadheading.
