Since the spur flower (Centranthus) sprouts every year from its overwintering organ in the ground, it is usually not necessary to cut back the approximately waist-high plant during the season. However, this plant is one of the perennials where targeted pruning can stimulate a second flowering.
When and how should you cut spur flowers?
Spurflowers (Centranthus) should be cut back after the first blooming period in summer to encourage a second blooming phase. Remove the wilted flowers and partially cut back the shoots with the leaves, leaving enough plant base for further growth.
Spur flowers – easy to care for and undemanding
The representatives of the Centranthus genus, known in this country as spur flowers due to their spurred leaves, are usually hardy without any problems. In addition, the plants with the magnificent red (Centranthus ruber), white or pink inflorescences can be easily propagated by sowing, root division or growing basal cuttings. Spur flowers do not necessarily need to be cut for plant he alth and compact growth, but spent inflorescences are usually cut off for visual reasons.
Extend the flowering period with the right cut
The representatives of the Centranthus genus are among the flowering plants in which a second flowering phase can be stimulated until autumn with targeted pruning at the end of the first flowering period. To do this, remove the wilted flowers in summer and also cut back the shoots of the plant with the leaves. However, leave a sufficiently large plant base so that the spur flower still has enough leaf mass and growth energy to form new flowers. These usually appear in August and bloom continuously until autumn.
Prevent the spur flower from self-seeding through targeted cutting
In many gardens, the spurflower goes wild due to the fact that it can self-sow well under suitable conditions. The Centranthus genus is not a plant that, as an unwanted guest in the garden, would not be relatively easy to uproot and thus contain. If you want to stop the spread of the spur flower from the outset, you can proceed as follows:
- Wait for the spur flower to fade
- Cut off the wilted flowers as soon as possible
- for seeds that are already ripe: controlled collection with a bag
Tip
It is a question of aesthetic taste whether the above-ground parts of the spur flower should be removed after they have wilted in autumn or only in spring. Covering plants that have been cut close to the ground with a layer of mulch as winter protection is not necessary, but it can have a positive effect on plant growth as a fertilizer and moisture reservoir.
