Deadheading Flowers: When, How, and Which Plants Respond

Should you deadhead everything? Most plants look better, and many rebloom—but technique matters.

General Method

Cut just above the leaves below the faded flower. This preserves the node where new growth emerges.

Plants That Rebloom Well

• Butterfly bush (continuous deadheading = months of bloom)
• Salvia, coneflower, coreopsis, zinnia, petunia
• Roses (cut to 5-leaflet leaf)

Plants That Don't Need It

• Spring bulbs (let foliage die naturally)
• Plants with ornamental seed heads (coneflower, sedum, grasses)
• Self-cleaning annuals (impatiens, vinca)

When to Skip

If you want self-seeding (columbine, foxglove) or winter interest (hydrangea, ornamental grasses), leave spent flowers.