15 Flowers That Don't Need to Be Deadheaded

2024-06-14
15 Flowers That Don't Need to Be Deadheaded

Deadheading is the process of clipping off old, faded flowers to refresh the look of perennials and annuals and encourage these plants to rebloom. While some garden favorites like geraniums, dianthus, cosmos, and marigolds benefit from deadheading, plenty of popular flowers don’t need to be deadheaded.

Some plants naturally drop old flowers when they fade, while others self-sow and produce new, free plants for your garden if you don’t deadhead old blooms. Find out which plants don’t need deadheading and make your flower garden easier to maintain.

01 of 15

Begonias

Pinching back spent begonia blooms can freshen up the look of your plants and make them grow bushier, but it’s not really necessary. Most begonias (Begonia spp.) are self-cleaning, meaning they naturally drop their petals after flowering. You don’t need to deadhead these plants for them to keep on producing flowers.

Growing Conditions: Part sun and well-draining soil

Size: 6 to 24 inches tall and wide

Zones: 9–11

02 of 15

Annual Lobelia

If you get too busy in your garden this summer, you don’t need to worry about deadheading annual lobelias (Lobelia erinus). While perennial lobelias such as cardinal flower can benefit from deadheading, annual lobelias are generally self-cleaning plants that drop their petals after flowering without any help from gardeners. These plants can be lightly trimmed back in summer if they’re looking bedraggled, but annual lobelias usually do just fine on their own.

Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade and well-draining soil

Size: 6 to 12 inches tall and wide

Zones: annual

03 of 15

Red Poppies

Deadheading red poppies (Papaver rhoea), also called Flanders or corn poppies, is an optional step that some gardeners may want to skip. Flowers left on the plant will mature into seed pods filled with tiny seeds that fall to the ground in autumn and sprout into new poppies in spring. Letting red poppies self-sow is an easy way to get more plants for your garden, but you can also deadhead them to limit their spread and extend the blooming season.

Growing Conditions: Full sun and average well-draining soil

Size: 2 to 3 feet tall and 6 to 12 inches wide

Zones: annual

04 of 15

Black-Eyed Susan

Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) is another popular plant you can choose to deadhead or not. While deadheading makes black-eyed Susan look trim and extends blooming, clipping off old flowers prevents the plants from going to seed. This can be a good thing if you don’t want your patch of black-eyed Susan plants to spread, but if you want the plants to self-sow and attract seed-eating birds like goldfinches, leave the flowerheads intact.

Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-draining soil

Size: 1 to 5 feet tall and 1 to 3 feet wide

Zones: 3-11

05 of 15

False Indigo

Many plants can be deadheaded for a neater appearance, but deadheading is not recommended with false indigo (Baptisia spp.). Deadheading these perennials prevents reflowering, and it snips away the seedpods, which are attractive accents in flowerbeds in autumn and winter.

Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade and well-draining soil

Size: 2 to 4 feet tall and wide

Zones: 3–8

06 of 15

Some Zinnias

Most zinnia plants (Zinnia spp.) should be deadheaded after flowering for bushier growth and repeat blooms. However, if you love both zinnias and low-maintenance gardening, explore hybrid zinnias like the ‘Profusion’ or ‘Zahara’ zinnia series. These annuals have all the beauty of standard zinnias, but they’ve been specially developed not to need deadheading.

Growing Conditions: Full sun and average to poor, well-drained soil

Size: 18 inches tall and wide

Zones: annual

07 of 15

Late-Flowering Hydrangeas

Hydrangeas (Hydrangea spp.) can be deadheaded after flowering, but it’s best to stop deadheading these plants late in the season. Not only do late-season pruning and deadheading expose hydrangeas to winter damage, but they also remove flower buds and reduce blooming in the future. Plus, if you leave late-season hydrangea flowers in place, those sturdy blooms dry on the plant and add interest to winter gardens.

Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade and well-draining soil

Size: 3–8 feet tall and wide

Zones: 3–9

08 of 15

Impatiens

It can be hard to find plants for shade gardens, but undemanding impatiens (Impatiens spp.) thrive in low-light areas. These easy-going flowers rarely need pruning, and they look lovely, whether you deadhead them or leave them as-is. When left to their own devices, impatiens naturally drop their old petals, but you can pinch back old flower stems if you need your plants to perk up a little faster.

Growing Conditions: Partial morning sun to full shade

Size: 1 to 3 feet tall and wide

Zones: 10–11 but often grown as annuals elsewhere

09 of 15

Astilbe

When astilbe’s fluffy pink and white flower plumes begin to fade, there’s no need to deadhead. Deadheading astilbe (Astilbe spp.) doesn’t trigger plants to rebloom, and the dried flowers look pretty on the plants through autumn and into winter. You can deadhead astilbe to keep plants from self-sowing, but it’s unnecessary.

Growing Conditions: Full sun or part sun and constantly moist, well-draining soil

Size: 1 to 3 feet tall and wide

Zones: 4–8

10 of 15

Some Petunias

Standard garden petunias (Petunia spp.) can get messy fast if their trumpet-shaped flowers aren’t removed after they start to wilt. While deadheading these types of petunias is a must, some petunia varieties, like ‘Supertunias’ (shown here) are self-cleaning plants that naturally shed old flowers without you needing to do anything.

Growing Conditions: Full sun and average well-draining soil

Size: 6 to 12 inches tall and 1-2 feet wide

Zones: 10-11, frequently grown as annuals elsewhere

11 of 15

Columbine

Columbine (Aquilegia spp.) can be deadheaded, but these low-maintenance plants usually don’t need it. Although deadheading will keep columbines from spreading, if you leave old flowers on the plant, they will self-sow into a colorful patch of flowers in seasons to come.

Growing Conditions: Part shade and evenly moist, well-draining soil

Size: 1 to 3 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide

Zones: 3–9

12 of 15

Sedum

Late-blooming sedums (Hylotelephium spp.) are the stars of autumn gardens with showy flowers in shades of purple, red, and white. However, if you don’t deadhead sedum blooms in fall, you can enjoy these perennials as winter interest specimens later in the season. While sedum flowers dry out and turn brown in the cold, they keep their stately shapes and look striking in barren gardens when other plants have died away for the season.

Growing Conditions: Full sun and any well-draining soil

Size: 2 to 36 inches tall and 14 to 48 inches wide

Zones: 3–10

13 of 15

Coneflowers

Whether you deadhead coneflowers (Echinacea spp.) or not is a matter of personal preference. Deadheading freshens the look of the plants and boosts flowering, but if you cut the old flowers away, your coneflowers won’t produce seeds. Coneflower seeds are a favorite treat for many backyard birds, and leaving the old flowers in place may increase the number of birds that stop by your garden.

Growing Conditions: Full sun and any type soil with good drainage

Size: 1 to 5 feet tall and 1 to 3 feet wide

Zones: 3–9

14 of 15

Foxglove

Most foxgloves (Digitalis spp.) are biennials that die after two years of growth. If you don’t want your foxgloves to self-sow, you can deadhead spent flowers, but if you’d prefer to keep foxgloves growing in your garden, leave the flowerheads on the plant so they can drop seeds and produce new foxglove plants for you.

Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade and evenly moist, well-draining soil

Size: 2 to 5 feet tall and 1 to 3 feet wide

Zones: 3–10

15 of 15

Wild Roses

Most ornamental roses look best when deadheaded regularly, but this treatment is rarely needed for wild roses, also known as species roses. Wild roses usually shed their petals immediately after flowering, and if you leave the old blooms as they are, they produce rose hips that can be harvested for jam-making and teas.

Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade in almost any soil

Size: 4–7 feet tall and wide

Zones: 3-10

Article "tagged" as:

Related Article

How to Grow and Care for Goldfish Plant

How to Grow and Care for Goldfish Plant

They won't grow snack crackers, but goldfish plants are worth adding to your collection. Learn how to care for these unique plants.
14 Best Indoor Palm Plants for Adding a Tropical Touch to Your Home

14 Best Indoor Palm Plants for Adding a Tropical Touch to Your Home

Liven up any room with these indoor palm plants that are easy to grow.
5 Expert Tips for Helping Hummingbirds During Heat Waves

5 Expert Tips for Helping Hummingbirds During Heat Waves

Help hummingbirds during heat waves with these expert tips on maintaining feeders properly and providing water and shade.
9 Creative Tree Stump Ideas for Adding a Natural Touch to Your Garden

9 Creative Tree Stump Ideas for Adding a Natural Touch to Your Garden

These tree stump ideas are an easy way to turn an eyesore into an asset. Put stumps to use as rustic planters, pedestals, and more.
7 Genius Garden Design Ideas from an Iconic American Landscape

7 Genius Garden Design Ideas from an Iconic American Landscape

Artfully blend formal and wild with these garden design ideas from Hollister House in Connecticut.
25 Budget Small Garden Ideas for Creating a Stunning Space Without Breaking the Bank

25 Budget Small Garden Ideas for Creating a Stunning Space Without Breaking the Bank

These budget small garden ideas will help you affordably create a gorgeous outdoor space.
25 Garden Decor Ideas for Taking Your Yard from Drab to Fab

25 Garden Decor Ideas for Taking Your Yard from Drab to Fab

Enhance your outdoor oasis with these garden decor ideas for various styles, budgets, and landscape sizes.
How to Plant and Grow Clivia

How to Plant and Grow Clivia

Find out how to grow clivia to enjoy its vibrant blooms in your home or garden.
6 Surprising Benefits of Planting Trees

6 Surprising Benefits of Planting Trees

Learn how planting trees can transform your environment and improve your quality of life.
5 Tips for Using Gardenia Fertilizer Correctly to Maximize Those Fragrant Flowers

5 Tips for Using Gardenia Fertilizer Correctly to Maximize Those Fragrant Flowers

These must-know tips on using gardenia fertilizer will boost your plant's flower power.
6 Must-Know Tips for Pruning Crape Myrtle Trees Correctly

6 Must-Know Tips for Pruning Crape Myrtle Trees Correctly

Use these tips on pruning crape myrtle to ensure you trim with precision, enhancing the health and vibrancy of this flowering tree.
9 Must-Know Tips for Pruning Hibiscus Plants

9 Must-Know Tips for Pruning Hibiscus Plants

Smart pruning spurs hibiscus plants to unfurl hundreds of eye-catching tropical flowers. These tips will take the guesswork out of pruning.
This Prairie Garden Plan Spotlights Pretty Native Plants

This Prairie Garden Plan Spotlights Pretty Native Plants

Summer heat and drought won’t faze the tough native plants in this prairie garden plan. Plus, pollinators love their flowers.
6 Soil Amendments That Will Help You Grow Healthier Plants

6 Soil Amendments That Will Help You Grow Healthier Plants

Learning when and why to use these soil amendments will improve your gardening results and save you money.
4 Must-Follow Steps to Keep Your Potted Plants Watered While You’re on Vacation

4 Must-Follow Steps to Keep Your Potted Plants Watered While You’re on Vacation

You may be away, but that doesn’t mean your outdoor pots and hanging baskets have to be left high and dry: Follow these simple actions to keep planted plants watered while you’re on vacation or traveling.
8 Tips for Getting Rid of Squash Bugs Naturally Before They Devour Your Plants

8 Tips for Getting Rid of Squash Bugs Naturally Before They Devour Your Plants

Find out how to get rid of squash bugs with these natural pest control tips, plus learn how to identify these insects and their damage.
How to Get Rid of Skunks in Your Yard Without Getting Sprayed

How to Get Rid of Skunks in Your Yard Without Getting Sprayed

Skunks eat garden pests, but their defensive spray can cause a problem for humans and pets that startle them. Find out how to get rid of skunks in your yard safely.
11 Budget-Friendly Front Yard Landscaping Ideas

11 Budget-Friendly Front Yard Landscaping Ideas

These helpful front yard landscaping ideas will boost your curb appeal without emptying your wallet.
How to Kill Weeds Naturally Using Organic Products

How to Kill Weeds Naturally Using Organic Products

Here's how to kill weeds naturally and organically in flower beds without any chemicals or products that will harm your plants.
Your Seasonal Lawn-Care Schedule for the Midwest

Your Seasonal Lawn-Care Schedule for the Midwest

Use our lawn-care schedule to help you maintain a beautiful yard all year long. You'll learn exactly when to mow, aerate, fertilize, and overseed.