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Quick Pruning Guide

  • Sam
  • Mar 16, 2024
  • 2 min read

Updated: Jan 23


Plants to be cut back in spring

Scientific name

Plants to be untouched in the spring and pruned in the fall

Scientific name

Artemisia (AKA Mugwort or Wormwood)

Artemesia vulgaris

Bearded Iris

Iris germanica

Hybrid Asters (AKA Little Carlow)

Aster x frikartii and aster symphyotrichum

Bee Balm (AKA Wild Bergamot)


Monarda didyma

Astilbe (AKA False Goatsbeard)

Astilbe

Blackberry Lily (AKA Leopard Lily)

Iris domestica

Avens (AKA Geum)

Geum aleppicum

Blanket Flower

Gaillardia 

Basket of Gold (AKA Alyssum)

Aurinia saxatilis

Bronze Fennel

Foeniculum vulgare

Black Eyed Susan

Rudbeckia hirta

Catmint

Nepeta

Blue Star

Amsonia tabernaemonatana

Columbine (AKA Granny’s Bonnet)

Aquilegia

Butterfly Bush 

Buddleia davidii

Corydalis (AKA Fumewort)

Corydalis lutea

Butterfly Weed (AKA Pleurisy Root)

Asclepias tuberlosa

Crocosia (AKA Coppertips)

Crocosmia

Cardinal Flower

Lobelia cardinalis

Daylilies

Hemerocallis

Coral Bells (AKA Alumroot)

Heuchera sanguinea

Golden Marguerite

Anthemis tinctoria

Cushion Spurge

Euphorbia polychroma

Goldenstar

Chrysogonum virginianum

Delphinium (AKA Larkspur)

Delphinium elatum

Ground Clematis

Chrysanthemoides monilifera

Dianthus (AKA Carnations)

Dianthus

Hardy Begonia

Begonia grandis

Foamflower

Tiarella cordifolia

Sunflower

Helianthus

Foxglove

Digitalis purpurea

Hollyhock Mallow

Malva alcea

Fringed Bleeding Hearts

Dicentra eximia

Japanese Anemone (AKA Splendens)

Anemone hupehensis

Gas Plant (AKA Burning Bush)

Dictamnus albus

Leopard Plant (AKA Tractor Seat Plant)

Farfugium japonicum

Gayfeather (AKA Blazing Star)

Liatris spicata

Masterwort

Astrantia major

Globe Thistle

Echinops

Meadow Rue (AKA Poor Man's Rhubarb)

Thalictrum dioicum

Heartleaf Bergenia (AKA Pigsqueak)

Bergenia crassifolia

Mountain Bluet

Centaurea montana

Joe Pye Weed

Eupatorium maculatum

Painted Daisies

Tanacetum coccineum

Lady’s Mantle

Alchemilla mollis

Penstemon

Penstemon barbatus

Lambs Ear (AKA Woolly Hedgenettle)

Stachys byzantina

Peony

Paeonia

Lavender

Lavendula

Phlox

Phlox paniculata

Leadwort (AKA Plumbago)

Ceratostigma plumbaginoides

Plume Poppy

Macleaya cordata

Lupines (AKA Bluebonnet)

Lupinus

Salvia

Salvia nemorosa

Mums

Chrysanthemum

Siberian Bugloss

Brunnera macrophylla

Purple Coneflower

Echinacea purpurea

Sneezeweed

Helenium autumnale

Red Hot Poker Plant (AKA Torch Lily)

Knipfofia

Solomons Seal

Polygonatum odoratum

Red Valerian (AKA Jupiters Beard)

Valeriana rubra

Spiked Speedwell

Veronica spicata

Russian Sage

Salvia yangii

False Indigo

Baptisia australis

Sea Lavender (AKA Marsh Rosemary)

Limonium

Yarrow

Achillea

Tickseed

Coreopsis



Turtlehead

Chelone lyonii



Wandflower (AKA Bee Blossom)

Sporaxis tricolor




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