Deadheading, the process of removing spent blooms, is often touted as essential for encouraging more flowers and maintaining a tidy garden.1 However, did you know that not all plants benefit from this practice? In fact, some plants rely on their natural seed production for propagation and overall health.
Allowing these plants to go to seed not only supports their life cycle but can also enhance your garden’s biodiversity by providing food for wildlife. Here’s a list of 15 plants you should never deadhead, ensuring your garden remains vibrant and self-sustaining.
1. Columbine (Aquilegia spp.)
Columbines are known for their delicate, bell-shaped flowers that bring a whimsical touch to any garden. These plants naturally reseed themselves, ensuring a colorful display year after year. By avoiding deadheading, you allow the plant to produce seed pods, which can lead to a delightful spread of new plants.
Moreover, columbine seed pods are quite attractive in their own right. They add visual interest to the garden even after the blooms have faded. Leaving them on the plant can also provide birds and other wildlife food, making your garden a more dynamic ecosystem.
2. Hellebore (Helleborus spp.)
Hellebores, or Lenten roses, are early bloomers that bring much-needed color to the garden in late winter and early spring. These hardy plants are low-maintenance and do not require deadheading to keep blooming. In fact, cutting back the flowers can reduce the plant’s ability to self-seed, limiting its spread.
Allowing hellebores to keep their seed heads ensures a more natural look and can lead to the growth of new plants over time. Additionally, the seed heads provide an interesting texture and structure to the garden as the seasons change.
3. Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)
Foxgloves are beloved for their tall spires of tubular flowers that attract bees and hummingbirds. These biennial plants bloom in their second year and then set seed. Deadheading can interrupt this natural cycle, preventing them from reseeding and reducing the chance of a continuous display.
Leaving the seed heads on foxgloves allows for natural propagation and adds architectural interest to the garden. The seed pods are a food source for various birds, contributing to the biodiversity of your garden.
4. Lupine (Lupinus spp.)
Lupines are striking plants with their tall, colorful spikes. These plants thrive in poor soil and are excellent for fixing nitrogen. Deadheading lupines can reduce their ability to reseed and establish themselves in the garden.
Allowing lupines to form seed pods encourages a natural reseeding process that can result in a stunning, self-sustaining lupine patch. The seed heads are also visually appealing and attract wildlife to your garden.
5. Clematis (Clematis spp.)
Clematis vines are famous for their large, showy flowers. Many varieties produce attractive seed heads that add interest to the garden long after the flowers have faded. Deadheading clematis can deprive you of these decorative seed heads and hinder the plant’s natural growth cycle.
Leaving the seed heads on clematis allows the plant to follow its natural lifecycle, contributing to a more organic garden appearance. The fluffy, feathery seed heads can catch the light beautifully, adding a magical touch to your garden.
6. Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
Black-eyed Susans are popular for their bright, daisy-like flowers. These hardy perennials are great for naturalizing and spreading throughout the garden. Deadheading them can prevent this natural spread and reduce the overall robustness of your garden.
Allowing black-eyed Susans to go to seed provides a valuable food source for birds and other wildlife. The seed heads can also add winter interest to the garden, standing out against a backdrop of snow or frost.
7. Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
Purple coneflowers are well-loved for their vibrant color and medicinal properties. These resilient plants do not require deadheading to continue blooming. In fact, allowing them to set seed can lead to a natural increase in plant numbers.
The seed heads of purple coneflowers are attractive and provide food for birds during the winter months. This makes them a valuable addition to any wildlife-friendly garden.
8. Globe Thistle (Echinops ritro)
Globe thistles are known for their spherical, spiky blue flowers. These tough perennials are drought-tolerant and low-maintenance. Deadheading can prevent them from forming their distinctive seed heads, which are an important part of their appeal.
Leaving the seed heads on globe thistles adds texture and interest to the garden. They also serve as a food source for birds and can contribute to the overall health of your garden ecosystem.
9. Joe Pye Weed (Eutrochium purpureum)
Joe Pye weed is a towering perennial that produces clusters of pinkish-purple flowers. This plant is a favorite among pollinators, and its seed heads are equally valuable. Deadheading can disrupt its natural reseeding process and reduce its presence in the garden.
By allowing Joe Pye weed to set seed, you can enjoy a more robust and self-sustaining garden. The seed heads provide interest through the fall and winter, adding to the garden’s year-round appeal.
10. Asters (Aster spp.)
Asters bring a burst of color to the garden in late summer and fall. These hardy perennials are great for attracting pollinators and do not need deadheading to thrive. In fact, cutting back the flowers can reduce their natural ability to spread and grow.
Leaving the seed heads on asters ensures a steady supply of new plants and provides food for birds. The seed heads also add winter interest, standing out against the bare landscape.
11. Milkweed (Asclepias spp.)
Milkweed is essential for monarch butterflies, providing both nectar and a place to lay eggs. Deadheading milkweed can interfere with its ability to produce seeds and support butterfly populations.
Allowing milkweed to go to seed ensures a continuous supply of this vital plant. The seed pods can add a unique element to the garden, especially when they burst open to release their fluffy seeds.
12. Bee Balm (Monarda spp.)
Bee balm is a favorite among bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. This vibrant perennial produces clusters of tubular flowers that are a magnet for pollinators. Deadheading can reduce the plant’s ability to self-seed and spread naturally.
By letting bee balm form seed heads, you encourage a natural increase in plant numbers and provide food for birds. The seed heads can also add visual interest to the garden, especially in the fall and winter.
13. Sedum (Sedum spp.)
Sedums are succulent perennials known for their fleshy leaves and star-shaped flowers. These tough plants are drought-tolerant and require minimal maintenance. Deadheading can reduce their ability to produce interesting seed heads that add texture to the garden.
Allowing sedums to set seed provides food for birds and adds winter interest. The seed heads can look striking against a backdrop of snow, providing a focal point in the winter garden.
14. Sea Holly (Eryngium spp.)
Sea holly is a unique plant with spiky, metallic-blue flowers that attract pollinators. These tough perennials thrive in poor soil and do not require deadheading. In fact, leaving the seed heads on can enhance the plant’s architectural appeal.
The seed heads of sea holly are attractive and long-lasting, adding interest to the garden throughout the year. They also provide food for birds, making them a valuable addition to a wildlife-friendly garden.
15. Japanese Anemone (Anemone hupehensis)
Japanese anemones are elegant perennials that bloom in late summer and fall. These plants produce beautiful seed heads that can add interest to the garden even after the flowers have faded. Deadheading can reduce the plant’s ability to spread and thrive.
Leaving the seed heads on Japanese anemones ensures a more natural garden appearance and provides food for birds. The seed heads can also add texture and structure to the garden as the seasons change.
Deadheading can be beneficial for many plants, but for these 15, it’s best to let nature take its course. By allowing these plants to set seed, you can enjoy a more vibrant, self-sustaining garden supporting diverse wildlife.
Source:
Read Next:
Nancy has been a plant person from an early age. That interest blossomed into a bachelor’s in biology from Elmira College and a master’s degree in horticulture and communications from the University of Kentucky. Nancy worked in plant taxonomy at the University of Florida and the L. H. Bailey Hortorium at Cornell University, and wrote and edited gardening books at Rodale Press in Emmaus, PA. Her interests are plant identification, gardening, hiking, and reading.