15 Perennials You Should Divide in Spring

As we jump into spring gardening, it’s tempting to rearrange and move perennials as they awaken for the growing season. Whether making room for new additions or spreading the bounty to other planting areas, spring is the right time to divide many of our favorites, including some natives. Spring is optimal for dividing fall-blooming perennials, while autumn is prime for spring and summer-flowering perennials. Both seasons allow mild conditions for young transplants to settle in before temperature extremes.

There are multiple reasons to divide perennials in the spring, including several benefits. Division restores vigor and flowering to declining crowds. It reduces crowding, maximizing access to moisture and nutrients to stimulate new growth. Dividing increases root and growing space and improves air circulation. It also serves to control and manage size and keeps robust spreaders in bounds. The most fun benefit is that the division creates new plants to expand the collection.

While techniques vary based on root size, depth, and sensitivities, many on our list benefit from a similar approach. With a spade or digging fork, dig a wide berth around the main crown or entire clump to lift it out of the soil. Capture as many roots as possible, keeping all intact.

With a sharp knife or spade, separate the clump or core into sections. Each segment should have viable stems and roots attached (these become the new transplants). While not all perennials show a decline in the crown, the viability of the mother plant determines whether to replant it or rely on the tender offshoots for fast development. If the crown is dense and woody, lacking vigor, and showing less growth and flowering, compost the old portion and foster the new offspring.

Bee Balm

	common name Bee Balm
	botanical name Monarda didyma
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 2-4’
	hardiness zones 4-9

Bee balm is a robust native wildflower of the eastern U.S. Its standout features are flared scarlet blooms that dot tall stems like pompoms. The blue-green foliage is edible and aromatic, with a minty, earthy scent and taste. The ornamental herb is at home in the perennial border and the edible landscape.

Monarda boasts a long bloom season that lasts from early summer until fall’s frost. In its optimal growing conditions, bee balm spreads vigorously by both seed and rhizome. Divide them in spring every one to three years to restore vigor, selecting tender, fresh growth and discarding thinning crowns. 

Pluck any unwanted volunteer seedlings as they crop up. Monarda is healthiest with good air circulation, which helps stave off powdery mildew. It flowers best in organic soils with regular moisture. 

Chrysanthemum

	common name Chrysanthemum
	botanical name Chrysanthemum spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2-3’
	hardiness zones 4-8

Hardy garden mums shine in the fall when their blanket of blooms in rich gold, scarlet, plum, pink, and copper is on full display. Iconic in the autumnal arrangement, the late bloomers span summer and fall when many other performers fade. They provide a late food source for pollinators and other beneficial insects. Mums are also easy to grow.

Divide the clumping, spreading perennial in spring. As vigorous growers, they divide easily and benefit from the process to promote fresh growth. Chrysanthemums have shallow root systems, making them easy to dig and transplant. 

The best time to divide the fall-flowering perennials is in the spring as new growth emerges and when shoots reach one to three inches long. Aim to divide hardy garden mums every two to three years when the primary plant shows crowded central crowns and reduced vigor and flowering.

When planting the new divisions, make sure the new crown and upper growth remain above soil level rather than settling too deep. Young divisions, free of crowded roots and stems, grow quickly. They’ll flower in the fall after a spring division.

Aster

	common name Aster
	botanical name Aster spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 1-8’
	hardiness zones 4-8

Asters are prized “stars of the fall garden” with their burst of color among muted hues and fading warm-season blooms. Their starry ray flowers bring an infusion of blue, purple, pink, and white and benefit bees and other pollinators with rich nectar.

After the fall bloom spectacle and winter dormancy, separate the main crown in the spring. Asters spread vigorously through seeds and rhizomes. They benefit from division every year or two to control their spread and maintain their health. Take new growth from the outer edges of the crown and compost the older, central section if it’s no longer vital.

The low-maintenance perennials don’t require deadheading unless you want to limit reseeding. Deadheading and pulling unwanted volunteers helps keep them in bounds if necessary. They do best in moist, organically rich soils. To prevent foliar diseases, allow plenty of air circulation and ensure soils have good drainage.

Liatris

	common name Liatris
	botanical name Liatris spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 1-5’
	hardiness zones 3-9

Blazing star liatris brings tall bloom spikes from July to September on stiff stems. Tiny flowers pack the spikes in purple, pink, and white above bladed foliage. With many species native to North America, the cold-hardy performers have a wide range where they serve as host plants to butterflies and moths. Blazing star withstands hot summers and is drought-tolerant once established.

Liatris spicata, or marsh blazing star, is native to the Eastern U.S. in moist meadows and marshy areas. It boasts dense blooms from spring through frost. Rough blazing star (L. aspera) ranges from Canada to Florida and thrives in dry, sandy sites. Magenta-purple pompon blooms open in late summer. Liatris punctata, dotted gayfeather, is a Western species with long-lasting purple color in late summer and into fall.

Divide the perennials every three to five years in spring. Catch them just as new leaves emerge, separating or cutting the corms with a sharp blade. Make sure each section has at least one eye for new shoots to develop.

Yarrow

	common name Yarrow
	botanical name Achillea millefolium
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 1-3’
	hardiness zones 3-9

Yarrow has huge flower clusters that are broad and flat, drawing pollinators and other beneficials as a valuable food source. The North American native thrives with a little neglect, preferring heat and tolerating various soils as long as drainage is good.

Achillea spreads by underground stems and self-seeding. It’s time to divide (about every two to three years) when the woody center declines. Cut or separate by hand fresh sections of new growth for replanting. Compost the spent core and its thick-wooded stems.

Catmint

	common name Catmint
	botanical name Nepeta spp.
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 1-3’
	hardiness zones 3-8

Catmint has aromatic, mounding gray-green foliage that adds texture and softness to borders and containers. The leaves contain essential oils that repel certain garden pests while appealing to feline visitors. It’s most showy when petite lavender-violet tubular blooms cover the stems in early summer, with successive rounds during the season. Different species and varieties have white, pink, or yellow flowers. 

Nepeta tolerates heat and grows in lesser soils as long as they have good drainage. It has low-to-average water needs and tolerates periods of drought. For the best flowering, average soils and moisture are optimal. Deadhead spent flower spikes or shear plants after flowering to encourage quicker reblooming.

After the original specimen is a few years old, create divisions as often as annually. In fall or spring, lift the clump and cut it into sections with roots and new growth intact. You can enjoy spring’s flowering, making the separations right after and with the first cutback. Replant the original and water all well to establish over the season.

Penstemon

	common name Penstemon
	botanical name Penstemon digitalis
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2-5’
	hardiness zones 3-8

Penstemon is an heirloom wildflower with tall spikes of violet bell blooms. Many species are native to the U.S. and widely cultivated because of their striking flowers and dark green foliage. Native bees visit each blossom for the rich nectar, and the blooms are also lovely in a vase.

Foxglove beardtongue, or smooth penstemon, is long-lived, eventually clumping and spreading and benefitting from division. It’s easy to divide the perennial in spring, post-frost, as new growth develops, but before flowering. Like many on our list, the primary plant will show less central growth, more woody stems, and fewer flowers as it ages. Dig, lift, and cut/tease the roots to create new transplants.

Other species take spring division well, and some can wait until just after flowering in climates with cool summers. Another method is to mound soil over the center of the crown to promote rooting over the growing season. Then, divide in the fall.

Beardtongue is low maintenance, tolerating varying soil and climate conditions. Dry, light, well-drained soils promote the best growth.

Blanketflower

	common name Blanketflower
	botanical name Gaillardia x grandiflora
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 1-2’
	hardiness zones 3-10

Blanketflower brings bright ray flowers in yellow, orange, red, and bi-color with chocolate brown centers. The North American native wildflower is adaptable and thrives in various sites, from sandy dunes to open meadows, with heat and drought-tolerance. Early to flower and late to fade, it enlivens the display until fall’s frost.

While not essential to health, removing old stems promotes new growth. When the primary plant becomes less robust (every two to five years), dig up and pull the spreading roots apart by hand. Tease out fresh transplants. Separating by hand protects the roots and transplants of blanketflower – skip the spade or knife on this one.

Gaillardia x grandiflora needs well-draining soil and flowers best with supplemental moisture during dry spells. Look for ‘Arizona Apricot’ with masses of mellow orange and yellow blooms. ‘Mesa Peach’ has upright blooms with peachy-orange centers that transition to yellow. Both bring a sunset glow to the border.

Astilbe

	common name Astilbe
	botanical name Astilbe spp.
	sun requirements Partial to full shade
	height 3’
	hardiness zones 4-9

Astilbe is a woodland selection that benefits from dividing in the spring every two to three years. Is shows the best flowering with division, producing its ample feathery plumes that sparkle above ferny leaves. Handsome foliage is glossy green with tinges of red and copper.

Each dense, pyramidal bloom spike holds hundreds of florets that open in succession. In pink, coral, red, purple, tawny, and white, the blooms set in spring and open through early summer. Leave the spent flowers intact to enjoy the unique seed heads that follow.

Use the spade or sharp knife method to cut astilbe roots for dividing and propagating. The perennial prefers consistently moist and organically rich soils.

Dicentra

	common name Dicentra
	botanical name Dicentra spp.
	sun requirements Partial to full shade
	height 9-18”
	hardiness zones 3-8

Bleeding heart, enchants with delicate flowers that suspend gracefully along arching stems. It brings woodland and wildflower appeal in late spring, when heart-shaped, puffy blooms in white, pale pink, and fuchsia emerge.

In cool climates, Dicetnra blooms from spring through fall. In warmer areas, they enter summer dormancy to conserve resources in the heat. After flowering, leave stems in place so that seeds develop and drop to expand the colony.

Bleeding heart seldom needs dividing, with every five to ten years as sufficient. Use a sharp knife to cut the crown and brittle roots. As they are prone to breaking, handle the roots with care. Split the crown into two or three parts for replanting.

Rudbeckia

	common name Rudbeckia
	botanical name Rudbeckia fulgida
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2-3’
	hardiness zones 3-9

Black-eyed Susan is a classic actor in the perennial bed, easygoing and carefree with few maintenance needs. Its golden ray flowers and chocolate button centers bring cheer from summer through frost.

The North American wildflower withstands hot, humid, and dry conditions. It adapts to various soil textures and light exposures. The hearty bloomer self-sows and also spreads slowly through underground rhizomes. Every three to five years, use a spade or pitchfork to divide the clumps. Division reduces crowding, improves air circulation,  and creates new plantings. 

Baptisia

	common name Baptisia
	botanical name Baptisia australis
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 3-4’
	hardiness zones 3-9

Baptisia, or blue false indigo, is a star perennial packed with sweet violet blooms in spring and summer. Bushy, blue-green foliage is soft, full, and attractive all season. After the blooms fade, the spikes produce dark seed pods that lend winter interest.

Baptisia is a long-lived native originating in the eastern U.S., where it grows naturally along streambanks, meadows, and open woodlands. The straight species is highly ornamental, and native bees and bumble bees appreciate the pealike blooms.

While low maintenance, baptisia can be slow to establish, taking off in its second growing season. It develops long taproots before sending energy to the leafy upper growth and blooms. It seldom needs dividing, looking at a decade or more if at all. But, to transplant or divide (to manage size, placement, or adjust growing conditions, for example), do a deep dig to capture the extensive root system. Use a knife or saw to cut the crown apart in half or thirds for transplanting, taking care not to break roots. Flowering may skip a year as roots reestablish.

Chelone

	common name Chelone
	botanical name Chelone spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2-5’
	hardiness zones 3-8

Chelone is a fall-bloomer whose little flowers resemble a turtle with an open mouth, hence its common name, turtlehead. The bell blooms in white, pink, and red are two-lipped petals like snapdragons. They line stalks in late summer to early fall among dark green, shiny leaves.

Chelone is native to North America and occurs naturally in bogs, swamps, and moist woodlands. Every four to five years, select offshoots from the parent plant to separate. When spring growth reaches one inch, sever them with a spade for transplanting and grow them in moist, organically rich soils.

Autumn Sage

	common name Autumn Sage
	botanical name Salvia greggii
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2-3’
	hardiness zones 6-9

Autumn sage and other perennial salvias do well with dividing in spring. They bring full color of tubular blooms that are hummingbird, bee, and butterfly magnets. Autumn sage is a North American native with fall blooms and edible leaves. The bright blooms are red, with varieties in white, purple, and pink.

Other salvias to divide in spring include pineapple sage (Salvia elegans). It produces late-season red flowers, and its foliage has a light pineapple flavor. Salvia guaranitica ‘Black and Blue’ is a favorite native late-bloomer. Its tall, deep blue tubular flowers begin in summer and last until frost.

Salvias benefit from division every five to ten years or as vigor declines. Salvia thrives in hot, dry settings but appreciates light afternoon shade. The durable performers do best in well-draining soils that dry out slightly between watering sessions.

Christmas Ferns

	common name Christmas Ferns
	botanical name Polystichum acrostichoides
	sun requirements Partial to full shade
	height 1-3’
	hardiness zones 3-9

Ferns do beautifully with spring division to spread the lushness to other areas of the understory. Whether a group of a single variety or a fern combination, they make soft, full mass plantings and woodland groundcovers.

Christmas ferns are evergreen and bring multiseason interest when others are dormant. To prevent overcrowding, divide fern clumps in the spring by selecting single plants and cutting the crown into pieces. Dig up the plant and use a sharp blade to cut the crown into segments, capturing roots.

Four segments of new, young plants are a good number from a single specimen. Plant the segments about 18” apart in their new garden spots and keep them moist until established. Keep the crowns slightly above the soil level to prevent settling.