Too late to deadhead echinacea?

Latimer · October 2023

Hi all,

As per the title, is it too late to be deadheading echinacea?

I've only just seen today that I should have been doing it to prolong flowering, it's not something I've ever done. If it's now going to be too cold to get any more flowers, I'll leave them for the winter seed heads but if you think a late flush is possible I might give a few a cut back.

Many thanks,

Plantminded · October 2023

I'd say that it's too late now. Leave them if they look as if they'll offer some winter interest, or cut them back to the ground. I leave most perennials to fade for a few weeks and then cut back those that add only misery!

Rubytoo · October 2023

Plantminded said: I leave most perennials to fade for a few weeks and then cut back those that add only misery!

Good one. So busy laughing I forgot to say agree with Plantminded I think it is a bit late now too.
Their seed head can look quite nice, and you may get some self seedlings.

Latimer · October 2023

Thanks @Plantminded, i thought as much. Something for me to remember for next year I guess!

Latimer · October 2023

Thanks @Rubytoo, I must have been typing at the same time as you!

I have been leaving them for the last few years over winter, only really tidying the stems that completely fall over. Never had anything self seed though (or I have and wiped it out assuming it was a weed! 🙈)

floralies · October 2023

Mine have all gone over now, I leave the seed heads for the birds, the goldfinches are very partial to them.

Latimer · October 2023

I shall keep an eye out for them @floralies 😊

Busy-Lizzie · October 2023

I asked on this forum about dead heading perennial rudbeckias a few weeks ago. The two people who replied said don't deadhead them as it wouldn't make a difference and the birds like the seedheads. They are the same family as echinacea.

Plantminded · October 2023

During the growing season, Echinacea will reflower if deadheaded, like Heleniums, which are also in the Asteraceae family. October is too late though.

https://www.gardenersworld.com/plants/echinacea-purpurea/#

Fairygirl · October 2023

Unless perennials are flowering early enough that they can then produce a later flush, it wouldn't matter about deadheading, or cutting back. Many plants I grow aren't finished their first flowering spell early enough because of that, so they can't produce a second flush before conditions are no longer suitable.
It does promote more flowering [in most plants] if you dead head throughout the main growing season, but it would be too late now if there are no buds showing.
Whether you then leave seedheads on existing spent flowers, is down to choice and, more importantly, your conditions.

Butterfly66 · October 2023

I don’t deadheadEchinacea or Rudbeckia, the flowers last for so long anyway. I used to deadhead my Heleniums but they never re-flower for me? Maybe it’s the variety, I think from vague memory they were one if the Autumnale series 🤔

Too late to deadhead echinacea?

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