Should You Prune Chrysanthemums? When and How to Keep Flowers Healthy

If you are wondering whether you should prune your chrysanthemums, the simple answer is yes. There are over 20,000 varieties of chrysanthemums, and most benefit from prune them. The more important question is how to prune your chrysanthemums properly.

Here’s everything you need to know about how and when to deadhead chrysanthemums to keep them healthy and blooming year-round.

Should you prune dead chrysanthemums?

Removing spent flowers from your chrysanthemums always improves their appearance. It stimulates new growth, which encourages the plant to produce larger, more beautiful flowers over a longer period of time. Since chrysanthemums are prone to self-seeding, removing spent flowers before they set seed will prevent unwanted spread and keep your chrysanthemum bed looking neat. Removing spent flowers also prevents pests and mold from taking hold.

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When to prune chrysanthemums

When your chrysanthemums typically start blooming depends on the variety and your USDA growing zone. Some varieties start blooming as early as April while others bloom most heavily during the summer months.

Regardless of the type of chrysanthemum, start removing spent flowers as soon as they begin to wilt or turn brown. Watch for the yellow button in the center to darken, which is a sign that seeds are starting to form.

Chrysanthemums last for about a week to 10 days, so deadheading weekly as the blooming period begins will encourage continued flowering and prevent pests on the spent flowers.

How to cut chrysanthemums

There are two ways to deadhead chrysanthemums, and the exact method depends on the type of chrysanthemum you are growing. Some varieties, such as Oxeye and Gerbera chrysanthemums, form basal rosettes, each with a single, unbranched flower stem.

Other popular varieties, including Shasta and Golden Marguerite, branch in clumps with multiple flower and leaf stalks growing along the main stem.

Here are instructions on how to cut single stem and multi stem chrysanthemums.

Single chrysanthemum

1. Identify the dying flowers in your chrysanthemum bush.
2. Follow the stem of the faded flower down to the cluster of leaves at the base of the plant.
3. Remove the entire stem and spent flowers with pruning shears or paper scissors, cutting the stem just above the leaves.

Multi-branched daisy

1. Identify the dying flowers in your chrysanthemum bush.
2. Follow the stem with the faded flower down to a new bud forming on the branching stem.
3. Use hand shears or pruning shears to cut off the spent flower and stem just above the new bud.
4. If no new shoots appear, trace the trunk down to where the two branches form a ‘Y’ shape.
5. Find the leaves at the intersection of two branches and use hand pruning shears to cut just above the leaves.

Popular types of chrysanthemums

With so many varieties of chrysanthemums to choose from, there’s a place for these easy-care plants in every garden. Here are some popular varieties.

• Shasta Daisy, (Leucanthemum x halo): A tall, branched variety with bright white petals and a yellow button centre. Blooms in the summer months.
• Marguerite Daisy, (Argyranthemum frutescens): The red, white, yellow, and pink flowers are slightly smaller than Shasta daisies on a 2- to 3-foot tall, multi-branched plant. Depending on the variety, they can bloom from late spring through fall.
• Gerbera daisies, (Gerbera jasmineii): Short (10 to 18 inches) plants produce single stems, each with a single flower growing from and held above the basal leaves. Blooms in vibrant red, yellow, orange, pink and white from late spring to early fall
• Chrysanthemum, (Continuous War): ONE Short type 3 to 6 inches tall, growing on single stems, each with a single flower from a basal set of leaves. Red, white, and pink flowers appear in late spring to mid summer.