Which Year's Wood Does It Bloom On?

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mdvaden

Location: Oregon, Western

Posted: Dec-27-2004 at 8:24pm

One subject I would like to review and learn more about is regarding the year's wood that flowers bloom on.

Two I am quite certain about are:

Forsythia...

It will bloom next Feb. to March on what was the new growth of last summer - last years new twigs.

Lilac...

It is like Forsythia. It will have flowers on the new growth of last summer.

Cutting the ends of twigs and branches now in winter will reduce or eliminate spring flowers for these.

Does that sound right to you?

What other shrubs can you add to this post?

M.D. Vaden

 

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Lisa A

Location: Oregon, Greater Portland Metro

Posted: Dec-28-2004 at 11:18am

Our native mock orange, Syringa lewisii, blooms on last year's new wood. From the native plant flashcards (at the printers now): "To encourage good floral display, prune out the oldest branches after the flowers have faded. The long, vigorous new shoots will produce next year's blooms. Never prune more than one-third."

Big leaf hydrangeas bloom on last year's wood, not new growth. The exception is one of the newest cultivars, whose name just slipped my brain - dang! It's summer something. I know someone will know the name so post and please help me, a sad partsheimers-afflicted poster.

The rule of thumb I've used for pruning shrubs may point to whether a shrub blooms on old wood or new: Prune spring bloomers just after they have bloomed and prune summer bloomers in early spring. For instance, prune rhodies right after they bloom to avoid removing flower buds forming for next year - they bloom on old wood (last year's growth). Prune bluebeard, Caryopteris x clandonensis in Feb or March - they bloom on new wood (current year's growth). There are exceptions, of course, as with any rule.