I’ve been reading some contradictory advice on whether to trim the flowers from hostas. My goal is leaf growth over flowers. The bulk of Google’s evidence suggests that it really doesn’t matter but I wanted to see what you guys thought.
This isn’t deadheading where the flowers are cut after blooming and before seed production gets underway.
I’m talking about trimming the flowers & stalks off altogether prior to blooming.
In the pro-pinch corner:
[QUOTE=http://www.hosta.net/tips.html]
If you are not concerned about the flowers at all, you can even cut the scapes before the flowers bloom. This will allow the plant to grow more quickly. This is a good idea if the plant has not matured yet. Once it has matured, you can then enjoy the flowers.
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[QUOTE=When to Trim a Hosta's Flower Stems? | ehow]
It also takes energy to produce flowers, which diverts nutrients and energy from foliage production. Remove the flower stalks as they begin to form but before the flower buds open in late spring and early summer. Cut the stalks at their base, removing them completely from the plant.
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Fighting the ‘doesn’t matter’ fight:
[quote=“[Better Homes & Gardens]
(Here’s When You Should Cut the Flowering Stems Off Your Hostas)”]Removing the flower stems won’t affect the leaves one way or the other. The reason that some gardeners remove hosta flower stems is because they think the tall stems detract from the overall look of the plant.
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You’ll have to try it over a couple seasons and learn, for instance I’m looking at a variegated hosta I’ve had in a big clay pot for 3 years and it is completely bloomed out and looks pretty ragged, but it could be just the summer heat.Love the look of the larger leaved green and almost blue plants, might be worthwhile to nip them in the bud, there are just too many other garden chores to worry about it.
A shout out to dear old Ralph Pinkus who introduced hostas to the Texas market in the early 60’s.
And a shout out to the warbling vireo in the mesquites who keeps me looking for a painted bunting with his dang song…
Huh. I have had hostas of various types for over ten years and have never heard of trimming the flowers.
My hostas grow very vigorously and I have to divide clumps every two or three years because they start taking over and crowd each other out. I don’t water or fertilize them; I’m lucky to have very good soil here which helps.
I let mine bloom and then when they’re done I remove the flower stem. The “theory” as passed on to me was that after blooming, you cut them so the “energy” of the plant focuses on root and plant growth. I’ve never had any issue doing this, they always come back each year a little bit bigger.
Slowlearner - Check out blue angel hostas if you like large leaves with a blue tint. I planted a row of them in my former home and they are gorgeous and giant!! We’re 3 weeks into our new home and there is very little shade for hostas. I’m a little bummed out I’ll probably not put them in at the new house.
Hostas are indestructible. I never thought to cut the flowers on mine as I find them so pretty. My hostas keep on keeping on.
Hurricane Irene killed our old metal shed. We had 4 hosta plants planted along one side. Irene knocked the shed sideways on top of them. In the process of tearing down and then building a new shed in August and September, we destroyed all of them mid-bloom. I mean trampled, stomped, sawed, spray painted and just destroyed them so that there was not a trace of hosta left. I wrote them off.
Well, the next summer, two of them came back like nothing happened. I think if the shed was in a place with more sun and not under the thick mulberry tree canopy, all of them would have come back. Shade, sun. . . hostas don’t give a. . . fudge.