Overwintering guide
How to overwinter queen of the prairie
Winter watering
No winter watering needed in open ground. Containers only need water in long dry, frost-free spells.
The mistake that kills queen of the prairie in winter
Cutting queen of the prairie hard back in autumn "to tidy up". That removes the growth that shelters the crown, and on some plants removes next season's flower buds entirely.
More queen of the prairie care
Overwintering queen of the prairie — FAQ
Does queen of the prairie need to come indoors for winter?
Queen of the Prairie is hardy to roughly USDA zone 3 — winter lows around -40°C. That means it can stay outside all winter in most temperate gardens. Queen of the Prairie is properly hardy and overwinters outside without fuss. Tidy away anything dead or diseased, apply a mulch over the crown to steady soil temperatures, and otherwise leave it alone — many hardy plants actually need a cold period to flower and grow well the following year. Save hard pruning for the right season rather than doing it in autumn.
When should I move queen of the prairie for winter?
Tidy and mulch in late autumn; leave the plant undisturbed until spring.
How often should I water queen of the prairie in winter?
No winter watering needed in open ground. Containers only need water in long dry, frost-free spells.
What kills queen of the prairie over winter?
Cutting queen of the prairie hard back in autumn "to tidy up". That removes the growth that shelters the crown, and on some plants removes next season's flower buds entirely.