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 annuals don’t need much care because they clean themselves by dropping their old flowers. Million bells come in many colors and are always a hit with hummingbirds and butterflies. 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
Coreopsis, which is also known as tickseed, grows a lot of daisy-like flowers in sunny gardens. The bushy plants have blooms that are golden yellow, mahogany red, or a mix of the two colors for most of the year. Coreopsis will flower more if you remove the spent flowers, but these hardy perennials do fine without it. Leave the spent flowers on the plants to look nice, or crush the dried seed heads to help them grow again naturally. 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 loved for its bright flowers that can handle the heat of summer. There are tiny red, pink, purple, white, and blue flowers that cover the whole verbena plant. Verbena flowers from spring to fall, and the flowers don’t need to be deadheaded very often to keep them coming. Pruning stimulates bushy growth but isn’t required for reblooming. Verbena grows best in full sun and poor to sandy, well-drained soil.
Sedum
In late summer and early fall, sedum plants bloom with pink, red, or white flowers. The flowers show up on top of succulent leaves that are different sizes, shapes, and textures. You don’t have to remove the spent flowers from sedum because they dry on the stems and look nice in the winter. 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.
- Agatha Artist®: This isn’t always true for other Agatha collections.
- 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.