Every single stem of a Sneezeweed (Helenium) is packed with so many gorgeous blooms that it can almost hurt a gardener’s heart to reach for the shears. But don’t worry! If you time your cuts right, you won’t just maintain the plant’s good looks—you’ll actually make it look even better.
The Four Main Reasons to Prune
Since Sneezeweed is a hardy perennial, it has plenty of time to grow and establish itself. Even though it dies back and regrows its stems from scratch every spring, it’s a vigorous grower that loves to spread out over the years. This gives us several great opportunities to use our garden scissors:
- To keep it in shape (and stop it from taking over the garden)
- To make the stems sturdier and more stable
- To encourage even more flowers to bloom
- To clean up old growth once the season is over
Pruning for the Perfect Shape
Sneezeweed is actually very forgiving when it comes to pruning. Because it’s such a vigorous grower, it can occasionally lose its tidy shape or start crowding its neighbors. Don’t be afraid to remove any excess or unruly stems, or anything that just doesn’t look its best anymore.
Pro Tip:
Don’t let those cuttings go to waste! You can use them to propagate new plants. And if the stems you cut already have open flowers, they make fantastic bouquets that will last at least a week in a vase.
Shortening Stems for Better Stability
There’s a reason these plants are often called “sun-worshipers.” When you give them the sunny location they crave, the stems can shoot up incredibly fast. However, because the stems stay relatively thin, they can easily flop over or snap on a windy day. To prevent this, start pinching back the tips of the stems shortly after they emerge in the spring. This keeps the plant shorter and sturdier while encouraging it to branch out and get bushier. Just be sure to stop pruning as soon as you see the first buds forming, or you’ll accidentally snip away your summer flower show!
Boosting More Blooms
Every time you deadhead a faded flower, you’re saving the plant energy. The Helenium will immediately redirect that power into creating brand-new flower buds. The only time you should leave the spent blooms alone is at the very end of the season if you’re hoping to collect seeds for next year.
The End-of-Season Cutback
Between growing seasons, your Sneezeweed will need a major haircut to get ready for its next act:
- You can prune it back in late fall if you like a tidy winter garden.
- However, early spring is usually the better choice for the plant’s health.
- Aim for late February or early March.
- Cut all the old stems down to just above ground level.
