18 Perennials to Cut Back in Spring

Pruning is an important part of garden maintenance, and it can be used to improve the look of your plants and tidy up your garden beds. But not all perennial plants are the same, and some perennials need to be cut back in spring, while others do best with fall pruning. Not to mention, pollinators and other wildlife often use perennial plants for shelter during the winter, which is why many gardeners cut back their perennials in spring.

A woman pruning plants in early spring — Different plants should be pruned at different times of the year. Here, we feature 18 that should be pruned in the spring.

When plants need to be pruned depends on the plant species and flowering time, but to help simplify things a bit, we’ve compiled this list of the most common perennial plants that benefit from springtime pruning. If you don’t see your favorite plants on this list, they may be covered in our guide on perennials that should be cut back in fall.

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18 perennials to cut back in spring

Woody stems being cut back in the spring — It can be hard to leave yard and garden plants looking messy after they die back in the fall, but for some plants, it's the right thing to do.

After the long winter months, your garden can look messy with bedraggled perennials, brown and mushy leaves, and overgrown stems. However, if you wait until spring to cut back the perennials listed below, your plants will be much happier, and they can grow even faster and produce more flowers too. Plus, waiting until spring to clean up gardens will benefit wildlife as well!

1. Sedum (Sedum spp.)

Purple flowering sedum — Cutting sedums back in the spring helps you avoid damaging their buds in the fall.

Stonecrop or sedum plants are staples in autumn gardens, and they’re one of the last flowers to bloom in the year. Even after their blooms fade, sedum flowers are still attractive, and many gardeners keep sedum plants in tact throughout winter to add interest to the snowy landscape.

You usually don’t need to prune sedums, but if you prefer a tidier garden look, cleaning up your sedums in spring is recommended. This allows you to enjoy sedum flowers in winter, but you won’t accidentally damage the sedum’s new blooms with early spring pruning. Just avoid pruning sedum in late spring or early summer, as this can remove developing flower heads and limit blooming.

2. Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)

Yellow and brown Black eyed Susan flowers — Dried seed heads on Black eyed Susans are best left over winter so the plants can reseed and feed the birds.

Black-eyed Susans are often included in pollinator gardens as their flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. But after black-eyed Susan flowers begin to die back, they produce large seed heads that provide a feast for birds in winter. Removing spent flowers in autumn can limit the resources available for wild birds, and it also prevents Black-eyed Susan from self-sowing.

The best time to cut back black-eyed Susan flowers is in mid-April after the weather begins to warm. At this time, pollinators are waking up, and you won’t need to worry about disturbing them when you clean up your garden beds. After clipping away black-eyed Susan stems, you can compost them in your compost pile as long as the plant doesn’t display signs of disease.

3. Coneflowers (Echinacea spp.)

Purple coneflowers — Coneflowers are also a good winter food source for wildlife and a plant that can reseed itself if left until spring.

Like black-eyed Susan, coneflowers produce large seedheads in autumn, which provide a valuable food resource for birds during the winter months. Cutting back coneflowers in fall deprives wildlife of these protein-packed seeds, and it also removes nesting material that native bees and other insects use for winter shelter. However, if you wait until spring to clean up your garden beds, your local wildlife will thank you for it.

The best time to prune coneflowers is in early spring before the plant’s new growth emerges. Then cut the plants down to the ground with sterilized pruners and wait for your coneflowers to unfurl their spring growth.

4. Butterfly bush (Buddleja spp.)

Purple flowering butterfly bush — Butterfly bushes become susceptible to winter kill if cut back in the fall.

The butterfly bush is another pollinator garden all-star with big, fragrant flowers that are always a hit with butterflies and hummingbirds. But towards the end of the growing season, butterfly bushes can look overgrown, which is why many gardeners cut butterfly bushes back in fall. However, this is not recommended as it can make these shrubs more susceptible to winter damage.

Instead, wait until you see new buds emerging in spring to cut back butterfly bushes. Then make your pruning cuts just above these new spring buds to rejuvenate your plant and remove any winter-damaged branches. It’s important to be patient and wait for that regrowth to emerge, which can take a while since butterfly bushes are sometimes slow to resprout in spring.

5. Astilbe (Astilbe spp.)

White flowering astilbe — Astilbe in general don't require a lot of pruning, but if you do, you should wait until spring.

Astilbe or false goat’s beard are pretty easygoing plants that usually don’t need a lot of fuss in the garden. Just plant them in a sunny spot or in part shade, and these low-growing plants will slowly spread, forming a colorful ground cover that’s ideal for weed suppression.

Because astilbe is so undemanding, there’s no real reason to cut them back in fall. However, if you want to clean up your garden a bit, you can snip away old flowerheads in spring to spruce up your plants and leave more room for new flowers to emerge.

6. Coral bells (Heuchera spp.)

Pink flowering coral bell plant — The leaves of coral bells are best left over winter to help them protect the roots of the plant.

Coral bells are primarily grown for their colorful leaves, but their airy flowers are also of interest, and they can add height and texture to container gardens and inground beds. Like astilbe, coral bells don’t need a lot of pruning, but they can sometimes be vulnerable to winter damage. Leaving coral bell leaves in place during winter helps protect the plant, and the leaves form a sort of living mulch around the soil line as well.

To clean up coral bells, gather up the leaves in early spring or snip them away with pruners. After you tidy up your plants, you can feed your coral bells with some organic, slow-release fertilizer to replenish the soil and give your plants extra nutrients for their springtime growth.

7. Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia)

Purple flowering Russian sage — Late fall pruning puts Russian sage at risk over the winter.

Russian sage is a vigorous growing plant that is mostly kept for its ornamental purple flowers, although its leaves emit a fine, menthol aroma when crushed too. Pruning Russian sage in fall can make your garden look more pristine, but it runs the risk of damaging your plant. Prune Russian sage too late in the year, and you can make your plant much more susceptible to winter damage.

For better results, wait until spring to cut back Russian sage. Pruning should begin when you see the plant begin to grow new shoots and leaves. Then snip away the top 6 to 8” of stems and prune back any branches that show signs of winter damage.

8. Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa)

Bright orange butterfly weed — The best time to prune butterfly weed is in the spring before new growth emerges.

Butterfly weed is another pollinator favorite, with golden orange flowers that are a magnet for butterflies, as well as bees, hummingbirds, and beneficial insects. While this plant blooms in mid-summer to early fall, it’s best to wait until spring to prune back wayward stems and old flower buds.

Fall pruning can make butterfly weed susceptible to harsh winter winds, while a springtime cleanup can freshen up your plants and encourage new growth. Cut butterfly weed plants back in early spring before new growth emerges by pruning away the top ⅓ to ½ of the plant with sharp, sterilized pruners or gardening shears.

9. Lady’s mantle (Alchemilla mollis)

Droplets of dew on lady's mantle plant — Spring pruning of Lady's Mantle reduces the plant's exposure to cold over winter.

Lady’s mantle is a classic cottage garden plant, and it’s often grown in shady locations due to its sheer adaptability. While this plant is mostly known for its scalloped leaves that hold dewdrops in neat, silvery droplets, lady’s mantle blooms in late spring to early summer with delicate sprays of lemon yellow flowers.

As a low-maintenance plant, a lady’s mantle doesn’t need a lot of extra attention, and it doesn’t need to be pruned back often. But if you want to clean up your garden, you should wait until spring to do it, as fall pruning can leave your lady’s mantle plants exposed to the cold. In spring, you can usually just gather up lady’s mantle leaves by the handle and gently pull them away, although you may need pruners to snip off unruly stems.

10. Foxglove (Digitalis spp.)

Foxglove flowers in bloom — Leaving foxglove flower spikes in place over winter increases their chance of self-sowing.

Foxglove plants produce tall flower spikes adorned with clusters of tubular flowers that always entice hummingbirds and other pollinators to garden beds. After foxglove flowers start to wither, gardeners can snip the flower spikes back, or they can leave them in place to encourage self-sowing. Either way, it’s best to leave foxglove leaves on the plant through winter and then tidy up foxgloves in spring to encourage new growth.

Some foxgloves are perennials, while others are biennials. If you happen to have a biennial foxglove variety, you can cut back the entire plant after it flowers either in fall or spring. However, leaving the plant in place over the winter will increase the chances that your foxglove will self-sow and produce a new crop of flowers that you can enjoy in your garden for years to come.

11. Joe Pye weed (Eutrochium purpureum)

Purple flowering Joe Pye Weed — The fluffy seed heads of Joe Pye weed are better left through the winter to feed the birds.

Tall and mighty Joe Pye weed is a hardy plant that can thrive in adverse conditions, and it usually doesn’t need a lot of maintenance. You can cut Joe Pye weed back or leave it to grow unchecked, but if you prefer a more refined garden look, you’ll probably want to clean up old Joe Pye weed stems from time to time.

Joe Pye weed usually flowers from summer to late fall, so there’s no real reason to prune it in autumn. After flowering, the Joe Pye weed yields fluffy seedheads, which are a winter treat for wild birds like chickadees. Waiting until spring to prune back Joe Pye weed will leave the seeds in place for wildlife, and it will also increase the chances that you’ll get more free Joe Pye weed plants!

12. Lamb’s ear (Stachys byzantina)

Fuzzy green lamb's ear plant — Leave the leaves on lamb's ear to protect the crown in cold weather.

A favorite plant among children, the lamb’s ear is cherished for its uniquely fuzzy leaves and purple flowers. Once used as an alternative to bandages, lamb’s ear leaves are also edible, and they can be battered and fried and served as a vegan substitute for fish! However, if you want to keep your lamb’s ear plants happy in your garden, you’ll need to go easy with pruning and wait until spring to remove old plant leaves.

Leaving lamb’s ear leaves in place over the winter protects the plant’s crown from the cold, ensuring that your lamb’s ear patch will regrow in spring. When the weather warms, simply rake up old dead foliage and cut off any stems that were damaged during the winter. After that, your plant should look quite refreshed, and it will begin to produce more spring growth.

13. Ferns

Perennial ferns in a garden — The best time to prune most ferns is in the spring before new ferns open.

There are many different types of ferns grown in garden beds, and not all ferns have the same care requirements. Some ferns do well with spring pruning, while others don’t. So it’s essential that you research the type of fern you’re growing to make sure that it can handle spring pruning.

If your ferns need pruning in spring, the best time to do it is before the new fern fronds unfurl (try to say that 3 times fast!) Use pruners to snip away old leaves just above the crown of the plant, but be careful not to damage any of the developing fiddleheads.

14. Globe thistle (Echinops spp.)

Purple globe thistle in flower — Globe thistle is a good source of winter food for wildlife. It's best to wait until spring to prune it.

Globe thistles have unique, ball-shaped flowers that come in a brilliant purple-blue that’s sure to stand out in any garden. Often used in flower bouquets and dried arrangements, globe thistle makes a big impact in gardens, and its seedheads provide food for birds and other wildlife in winter. Cutting back globe thistle in autumn can remove these seeds and limit the natural food resources in your garden that might otherwise benefit goldfinches and other feathered friends.

While waiting until spring to prune globe thistle is a good way to help birds, it will also enhance the health of your plants! Globe thistles are more likely to overwinter successfully if you wait until spring to prune them. Simply clip the plant back above the basal foliage before new leaves emerge.

15. Asters (Aster spp.)

Feathery purple aster flowers — Asters perform best if they're left alone for the winter.

Asters are late-season bloomers that start to flower towards the summer and into fall. In fact, some asters flower so late in the year that it just doesn’t make sense to prune them in autumn at all. Other asters flower earlier, but they seem to grow best if they’re allowed to overwinter in tact before being pruned in spring.

When spring arrives, remove any damaged sections of aster crowns and clip away old and broken stems. The only time you may want to cut back asters in autumn is if your plants suffered from fungal issues, like powdery mildew. If this occurs, remove the infected foliage and destroy it to keep it from overwintering in your garden beds.

16. Red hot poker (Kniphofia uvaria)

Red hot pokers have a very distinct look with columnar flowers in bright shades of yellow and red. These plants can be grown from rhizomes or from potted plants purchased at the nursery, but once they get established in gardens, they spread easily via their underground rhizomes.

After flowering, red hot poker plants can look a bit bedraggled but resist the urge to prune them back severely in fall, as this can leave the plants’ sensitive crowns exposed to winter damage. Instead, if you prefer a more manicured garden, cut red hot poker stems and leaves back by half in fall, but wait until spring to do the remainder of your pruning.

17. Turtleheads (Chelone spp.)

Purple-pink turtleheads flowers — Turtleheads overwinter well and are very cold hardy, but it's still best to wait until spring to prune them.

Turtleheads are unique-looking plants that slightly resemble snapdragons, although these flowers have more rounded shapes. Thriving in moist areas, turtleheads are an important food source for native pollinators like bumblebees, and they can make a spectacular addition to bog gardens. Turtleheads also have incredible cold resistance, and they can thrive in growing regions as cool as Zone 3.

But while turtleheads can generally overwinter well, they are much less likely to be damaged in winter if you don’t prune them in fall. That said, your plants will look more attractive during the growing season if you regularly deadhead spent blooms and snip away damaged stems.

18. Delphinium (Delphinium spp.)

Purple and blue delphiniums in bloom — Delphiniums are difficult to overwinter and are often grown as annuals, but their best chance for surviving is not pruning them until spring.

Delphiniums are another cottage garden favorite, but these plants are also much beloved by florists who use their electric blue flowers in bouquets and flower vases. In the garden, delphinium blooms are often paired with other colorful flowers, such as phlox, peonies, and Shasta daisies, to create an eye-catching flower display that will delight the other senses as well!

While delphiniums are commonly grown in flower gardens, they have a bit of a reputation for being finicky, and many gardeners grow delphiniums exclusively as annuals since they can be tricky to overwinter. However, if you want to increase the chances that your delphiniums will survive the winter, you should always wait until spring to cut back your plants. While flower stalks can be cut back after blooming, leaving the plant’s leaves in place over the winter will help protect delphinium roots from winter’s chill.

Frequently asked questions

Lamb's ears leaves sitting under a coating of icy snow crystals — Early spring, after the major threat of winter weather has passed, is the right time to do your spring cleaning and pruning.

How do you prune flowers in the spring?

Some plant leaves get very soft or dry over the winter, making it easy to pull old plant leaves free in spring and compost them in your compost pile. Other plant stems and leaves remain rigid and will need to be removed with pruners. When pruning, always use sterilized shears, and don’t cut so low on your plant that you cut into the plant’s new basal growth if the plant has begun to regrow after winter.

What month do you cut back flowers?

Different plants will need to be pruned at different times of the year. Some perennials are cut back in fall, while others should be pruned only in spring. For spring pruning, most plants are generally cleaned up in mid-April, which gives pollinators and other wildlife more time to emerge from hibernation before you tidy up your beds.

Do all perennials need to be cut back in the spring?

No, some perennials like daylilies, irises, and bee balm are generally cut back in autumn. One of the main reasons why you’ll want to prune plants in fall is if they’ve struggled with pests or diseases during the growing season. Pruning diseased plant matter away in autumn will prevent pathogens and pests from overwintering in your garden and reemerging in spring.

Do I need to sterilize pruning shears?

Yes. Pruners should always be sterilized in between plants to avoid spreading common plant diseases like powdery mildew.

What is the best disinfectant for pruning tools?

Some gardeners use a 10% bleach solution to disinfect gardening tools. While this method is effective, bleach can take up to 30 minutes to fully disinfect items, which is impractical when you’re working quickly in your garden. A better option is to disinfect garden tools with isopropyl alcohol, as this product sterilizes tools in 10 to 30 seconds.

When should I start cleaning my garden in the spring?

After winter, you’re probably impatient to start cleaning up your garden, but it’s best to wait until mid-April to start freshening up your beds. Cleaning up your garden too early can disturb wildlife and pollinators that have overwintered in your garden. That said, some plants will benefit from being pruned back in early spring, but it’s a good idea to leave the majority of plant debris in your garden until later in the season.

Summary

New leaf growth on a spring-pruned plant — There are very good reasons to wait until spring to prune your plants, but the most important is plant survival.

Waiting until spring to cut back the majority of your perennial plants just makes sense. Not only does it save you time in autumn when you’re already swamped with other gardening tasks, but leaving plants in your garden over winter provides a sort of natural mulch to protect plant roots against the cold, and it helps pollinators too. We’ve been doing spring cleaning in homes for generations, so why not extend the tradition to our gardens as well!

Beyond pruning perennials, there are other important garden chores to complete in spring, such as seed starting. Buy while you’re waiting for your perennials to regrow; you may also want to plant these spring-blooming perennials and ephemerals that will flower even earlier in the growing season.