Shop Products
Houzz Logo Print
forestwench

Opinions Needed: Cutting Back Baptisia

forestwench
13 years ago

** I did post this to the April 2010 Baptisia thread, but it seems it did not bring the thread to the top. If it shows up eventually- sorry for dup.**

This year my 4 yr old Baptisia australis got huge - meaning over 4' tall. Our warmest spring in 100 yrs maybe the cause?

I do ring it every year and normally just let it do it's thing. It is in over 6 hour sun - afternoon facing SW.

It is flopping bad, bent over completely at the ring- rain and wind. Some of the stems are so bent, I will not be able to stand them up, unless I stake individually, which I'd rather not. They may die off anyway.

I am thinking of experimenting and cutting it back to the ground... Never did this before and do not want to stress the plant more then it is already, but everything underneath is now too wet and on it's way to dying. Guessing I will get secondary growth, hopefully not a rebloom.

Actually my prairie smoke is out of control this year also, so I might cut back that too.

Any ideas/opinions on this?

Comments (10)

  • totallyconfused
    13 years ago

    I cut mine back for the first time this year. I cut it back to about 15", not all the way to the ground. They looked terrible when I first did it and I was certain that I had killed them, or atleast ruined them for the season, but after about 2 weeks, I'm starting to see some new growth beginning. Shortly after cutting mine I noticed some sort of black fungus on some of the remaining lower leaves. I'm wondering now if that might have been caused by poor air circulation due to the upper growth shading it. I removed the affected stalks and haven't noticed any further spread.

    My neighbor sort of shaped hers up, much the way you would shape a shrub. It looks much better than mine, but doesn't control the size as much.

    Hope this gives you some options to consider.

    Totally Confused

  • steve1young
    13 years ago

    Last year I cut back my A. baptisia leaving some foliage on the stalks and those did very well. New growth, but less flowers this year. The few stalks that I cut all the way down to the ground did not resprout. I hope this helps!

  • katybird_PA
    13 years ago

    I visited Longwood Garden's last year and noticed that they had sheared back there baptisia like a hedge. When I came home, I gave mine a good clipping and them responded very well to it. Unfortunately, this year the deer took care of the pruning and I didn't get much bloom at all. :-(

  • prairiemoon2 z6b MA
    13 years ago

    I cut mine back and you can hardly notice that it's been cut back. I trimmed the stems that were hanging over, taking them back to a joint just above leaves and left the center and back alone. It looks pretty good. I had to get it off the plant that was in front of it.

  • sukie
    9 years ago

    My Baptisia gets huge in the Summer and I was wondering what would happen if I cut it back in late Spring? Would that make it shorter when it bloomed or finished growing for the season?

  • dbarron
    9 years ago

    Spring blooming baptisias really won't respond well to being cut back..and you'd certainly cut off all the incoming blooms if you prune it anytime before bloom.

  • gardenweed_z6a
    9 years ago

    sukie9 - dbarron is correct. Baptisia australis is a fairly early spring blooming perennial. If you cut it back in late spring, you'll miss out on the gorgeous flowers. I use a peony ring to give my plants (I have several) the support and to keep them from sprawling since some of them aren't growing in full, all-day sun. They're just such beautiful, maintenance- & pest-free perennials, I simply wouldn't be without them.

    I checked my perennial guide, Perennials for Every Purpose by Larry Hodgson and he recommends using peony rings for support as well.

  • remy_gw
    9 years ago

    Sukie, It does not hurt them to cut them back a little after they bloom though.
    Remy

  • nowyousedum
    8 years ago

    My Baptisia gets infested with the genista broom moth every year. It is beautiful until then and then it turns webby and black. Awful! I decided this year to dig it up and toss it. Ha! It came back! I do love it. Just didn't want to contend with the infestation. I had been wondering about whacking it back and am glad to read all the advice here.

  • rusty_blackhaw
    8 years ago

    One of the best features of my Baptisia "Purple Smoke" is that foliage remains sturdy, full and healthy all season long. It even turns an interesting shade of charcoal black after hard frost.