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cut back flowering autumn joy??

Kristin Genovese

16 years ago

my autumn joy (planted last fall) already has a mass of tiny flower heads on it, and i'm afraid it's going to bloom way too early, leaving nothing left for fall. i didn't cut it back at all yet this spring... is it too late to do so? i'm a little afraid to cut the flower heads off now in case it doesn't reproduce any more for fall? any advice??!! thanks!!

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Comments (7)

Saypoint zone 6 CT
16 years ago
The blooms that appear now will stay until fall. If you cut it back now, it may not put out enough new growth to have a nice shape, but you can try. It won't do it any harm, but I've had a couple look funny for the rest of the season when I did it too late.
njoynit
16 years ago
mines just now forming blooms& its been in ground 2 years.Seems the blooms last awhile.I'm further south zone 8b TX.
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flowerluvr
16 years ago
They'll change color gradually as the season goes on. The coloring can differ, depending on how much sun they're getting, but mine go from green through a range of pinks into an almost rusty color. It's a good winter interest plant, too.
debgrow
16 years ago
I wouldn't cut it back now that it's sent out blooms. You won't get another round of blooms that are anywhere near as full as these will be. They might not open for quite some time...these guys take a long time to get going...the "show" might happen a bit earlier this year than most, but I'd let it run its course and see what happens - I definitely wouldn't prune it until it's done flowering.
lindac
16 years ago
In zone 6 it will put out more growth and another set of blooms, but the blooms won't be as large.
You are way ahead! Mine is a long way from putting out any blooms yet.
Linda C
Kristin Genovese
Original Author
16 years ago
thanks for the advice! i'm just going to let them be this year, then maybe next year, now that i know better, i'll cut them back earlier, before they put out blooms.
carrie630
16 years ago
Actually, I have cut back ones with blooms, stuck those in the ground, they bloomed and the mother plant put out more leaves - can't remember if it bloomed.... and if it did it would have been right before frost - I am not sure how tall your plant is to have that happen, mine was pretty big.

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