How to prune eranthemum pulchellum

Immediately after flowering finishes, typically late winter to early spring. Cut all flowered stems back by half to two-thirds, pruning just above a node or lateral shoot. Remove any dead or thin, weak stems at the base. Tip-pinch the resulting new growth once or twice in summer to keep the plant compact before it sets flower buds in autumn.

Once a year after flowering; light tip-pinching once or twice through summer. Blue sage (Eranthemum pulchellum) is a soft-wooded tropical shrub that blooms in winter and becomes straggly if not pruned. Cut it back firmly after flowering ends to stimulate fresh, bushy regrowth and a better display the following season. Without this post-bloom prune it produces fewer flowers over time.

Cut all flowered stems back by half to two-thirds, pruning just above a node or lateral shoot. Remove any dead or thin, weak stems at the base. Tip-pinch the resulting new growth once or twice in summer to keep the plant compact before it sets flower buds in autumn.