9 plants you never need to deadhead —here's why you should leave them alone this summer

As gardeners, we’re often told that deadheading is a crucial practice to promote healthy plant growth and encourage blooming. However, this isn’t always the case. In fact, there are several plants that not only don’t require deadheading but actually thrive better when left alone.

In this article, we’ll explore nine plants that you never need to deadhead, and why it’s better to leave them be this summer.

1. Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) Black-eyed Susans are a popular choice for wildflower gardens and are known for their bright yellow petals with dark centers. These plants produce a bounty of blooms throughout the summer, but deadheading them can actually reduce their flowering performance. Instead, let the plant’s natural cycle run its course, and you’ll be rewarded with a second round of blooms later in the season.
2. Bee Balm (Monarda didyma) Bee Balm is an aromatic herb that attracts pollinators and adds color to your garden with its vibrant red, pink, or purple flowers. Deadheading this plant can disrupt its natural flowering cycle, which can lead to fewer blooms in the long run. Leave the spent flowers intact, and they’ll eventually drop off on their own, making way for new growth.
3. Coneflower (Echinacea spp.) Coneflowers are stunning perennials with large, showy flowers that attract butterflies and bees. These plants have a unique way of reproducing; the flower petals drop off, leaving the cone-shaped seed head intact. This seed head is an important food source for birds and small mammals, so it’s best to leave it be. Coneflowers will produce new blooms throughout the season without any deadheading necessary.
4. Daylily (Hemerocallis spp.) Daylilies are a low-maintenance, easy-to-grow plant with beautiful, trumpet-shaped flowers that come in a range of colors. Deadheading isn’t required for these plants, as the spent blooms will naturally drop off after a few days, making way for new growth. In fact, removing the dead flowers can disrupt the plant’s energy production and reduce its ability to produce more blooms.
5. Dahlia (Dahlia spp.) Dahlias are a popular choice for cutting gardens, with their large, showy blooms in a variety of colors and shapes. While it may be tempting to deadhead these flowers to encourage more growth, it’s not necessary. Dahlias produce new buds on the same stem, so leaving the spent blooms intact won’t affect future flowering. In fact, removing them can stress the plant and lead to fewer blooms overall.
6. Lupine (Lupinus spp.) Lupines are a beautiful, tall perennial with spikes of colorful flowers that are a favorite of bees and butterflies. Deadheading these plants is not only unnecessary but can actually harm their growth. The spent blooms provide important nutrients for the plant’s seed production, which helps ensure future generations of Lupines.
7. Peony (Paeonia spp.) Peonies are stunning perennials with large, showy flowers that come in a range of colors and shapes. These plants don’t require deadheading, as the spent blooms will naturally drop off after a few days, making way for new growth. In fact, removing the dead flowers can disrupt the plant’s energy production and reduce its ability to produce more blooms.
8. Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) Russian Sage is a hardy shrub with silvery-gray leaves and airy, blue or white flowers that are a favorite of bees and butterflies. Deadheading isn’t necessary for this plant, as the spent blooms will eventually drop off on their own, making way for new growth. Leaving the flowers intact also helps protect the plant from winter damage, as they provide important protection for the delicate buds.
9. Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) Yarrow is a versatile herb with fern-like leaves and flat-topped clusters of small, white or yellow flowers that attract pollinators. Deadheading these plants can actually reduce their flowering performance, as the spent blooms provide important nutrients for the plant’s seed production. Leave the flowers intact, and Yarrow will produce new blooms throughout the season.

In conclusion, while deadheading can be a helpful practice for some plants, it’s not always necessary or even beneficial. These nine plants thrive better when left alone, so resist the urge to deadhead and let nature take its course. Your garden will thank you!