14 Plants You Should Never Cut Back in Winter

Many plants in your garden may look sad or even dead come winter. Despite this, resist taking out your pruning shears. There are plenty of reasons not to prune plants in winter. For one, many varieties set their buds for the following growing season during summer and fall, meaning pruning during winter can remove this growth.

Another case for not pruning during winter? Leaving the foliage on your plants can protect their roots from cold, harsh weather. Also, plants that produce seeds, like sunflowers and coneflowers, provide a food source for birds during winter . To help you with your seasonal pruning, our gardening experts weighed in on which plants you should never cut back during winter.

Jessica Turner-Skoff, Ph.D., associate director of science communications at Longwood Gardens , a botanical garden in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.

Linda Langelo, horticulture specialist at Colorado State University , where she specializes in various gardening topics, including herbaceous plants, vegetables and vegetable insects, landscape design, and rock gardening.

of 14 Oakleaf Hydrangeas Oakleaf hydrangeas (Hydrangea spp.) flower on old growth. "Cutting hydrangeas like this back in winter can remove the flower buds formed for the following season, leading to fewer blooms in summer," says Jessica Turner-Skoff, associate director of science communications at Longwood Gardens. "It's best to only remove dead branches. It's worth leaving the dried flowers as well because they provide visual interest and texture in the winter landscape, often catching snow or frost. It is sure to add whimsy and beauty to your garden."

of 14 Coral Bells Coral bells (Heuchera) need their evergreen foliage to help insulate and protect their crowns during winter. "Cutting heuchera plants back in winter exposes them to potential frost damage, so plan on pruning in spring," says Turner-Skoff. "The colorful, often striking foliage in shades of purple, bronze, or silver provides vibrant ground-level interest in winter gardens, maintaining texture and color even in colder months."

of 14 Leave sunflowers (Helianthus spp.) in your garden after the blooms are spent to provide food for birds. Many types of birds feed on sunflower seeds, among them are goldfinches, nuthatches, and chickadees, says Linda Langelo, horticulture specialist at Colorado State University. "You can prune sunflowers in the growing season, which encourages branching on most types, and then there are more seeds for the birds in the fall and winter," she adds.

of 14 Keep the branches of your dogwood tree (Cornus) in-tact to add color to your landscape throughout winter. "Some dogwood species have vibrant stems that provide visual interest during the cold months," says Turner-Skoff. "The red or yellow stems of certain species can stand out against the typical gray, white, or brown wintery backdrop, creating a striking colorful focal point in the landscape."

of 14 Stonecrop (Sedum) has thick stems and leaves that provide protection for its roots during winter. Cutting back its foliage can expose the roots to harsh weather. Another case for not pruning stonecrop in winter? "The remaining foliage and flower heads can catch frost, adding sparkle and color to the winter landscape. Wait until spring to do any pruning," says Turner-Skoff.

of 14 Sedge varieties (Carex) don't need to be pruned in winter. "Just remove any dead leaves or debris, accomplished easily enough by raking it with your fingers," says Turner-Skoff. "A gorgeous addition to any garden, sedges support other forms of wildlife and remain attractive in any season."

of 14 Many types of jasmine, including Jasminum officinale, Trachelospermum jasminoides, Jasminum nudiflorum, and Jasminum polyanthum flower in winter, so it's best to wait until they're done blooming in spring to cut them back.

of 14 Wait to prune roses (Rosa) until early spring. "Think of it this way, pruning encourages growth. If you prune off the flowers the rose starts to develop new growth," says Langelo. "Then the temperature plummets, and that growth freezes and dies. So, the plant has used energy toward new growth that depletes food in the root system to help the rose overwinter and start new growth in the spring."

of 14 Coneflowers (Echinacea purpurea) provide sustenance for birds during winter. If you prune them too early, you will remove a valuable food source for cardinals, bluejays, and goldfinches, says Langelo. The same goes for black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia spp.). "These native plants are found in many different natural habitats where these birds are located. Plant enough of them in your garden and give your birds a winter season of birdseed," says Langelo.

of 14 Japanese Camellias The Japanese camellia blooms in the winter (Camillia japonica), so pruning too early will remove the flower buds, says Langelo. Wait to prune until early spring, which will encourage new growth.

of 14 Chinese Fringe Flower Chinese fringe flower (Loropetalum Chinense) sets buds in late summer and early fall to prepare for a late winter or early spring bloom. If this plant is pruned too early, it removes all the flowers for next season. Generally, Chinese fringe flower doesn't require much pruning to begin with, but you can give it a trim in summer after the blooms are spent.

of 14 Lilacs (Syringa spp.) must be pruned right after they flower in the spring because they bloom off old wood, says Langelo. She adds that waiting until fall or winter to prune removes flower buds for next year.

of 14 Forsythia (Forsythia spp.) blooms in late winter or early spring. Prune too early, and you risk cutting off future blooms. Instead, prune forsythia immediately after it flowers. "Pruning in early summer, such as in June, will be too late. You will have pruned off the flowers for next spring," says Langelo.

of 14 Native azaleas (Rhododendron spp.) only need to be pruned to remove diseased, dead, or broken branches. "For other groups of azaleas such as kurume or Southern Indian hybrids, they can be pruned three weeks after they finish blooming," says Langelo. "If you do it later in the season, you will prune off next year's flower buds since they bloom on old wood." Encore azaleas only need a light pruning for shaping and increasing airflow.