Pruning guide
How to prune love-lies-bleeding
Best time
Deadhead as tassels fade, typically late summer to autumn
How often
As needed; deadhead to limit self-seeding
Technique
Snip individual spent flower tassels where they join the stem. Remove yellowing lower leaves by pulling cleanly downward or cutting at the base.
More love-lies-bleeding care
Pruning love-lies-bleeding — FAQ
When should I prune love-lies-bleeding?
Deadhead as tassels fade, typically late summer to autumn. Snip individual spent flower tassels where they join the stem. Remove yellowing lower leaves by pulling cleanly downward or cutting at the base.
How often does love-lies-bleeding need pruning?
As needed; deadhead to limit self-seeding. Love-lies-bleeding generally does not need pruning — its dramatic drooping flower tassels are the entire point. Remove spent or damaged lower leaves to keep plants tidy. Deadhead faded tassels if you want to limit prolific self-seeding. Do not cut back hard; plants do not regenerate reliably from heavy pruning.
How do you prune love-lies-bleeding?
Snip individual spent flower tassels where they join the stem. Remove yellowing lower leaves by pulling cleanly downward or cutting at the base.