Which perennials can be divided in spring?

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In Iowa, many perennials are best divided in early spring, just as the foliage emerges from the ground (April). Division at this time has advantages. In spring it's easy to see where the root ball is located to dig up the entire plant. Additionally, the small foliage does not get in the way of splitting the plants and the foliage fills out after division, preventing a lop-sided look the rest of the year.Learn more in this article: How to Divide and Transplant Perennials.Perennials that can be divided in spring.Common NameScientific NameNotesAsterSymphyotrichum spp.divide every 2 or 3 yearsAstilbe Astilbe spp.divide every 3 or 4 yearsBaby's Breath Gypsophila paniculatadivision is difficultBalloon FlowerPlatycodon grandiflorusdivision is difficult because of its long taprootBarren StrawberryWaldsteinia fragarioides BeardtonguePenstemon spp. Bee BalmMonarda spp.divide approximately every third yearBellflowerCampanula spp. Black-eyed SusanRudbeckia hirtadivide every 3 or 4 yearsBlanket Flower Gaillardia × grandiflora Blazing StarLiatris spp. Bugle WeedAjuga reptans BurnetSanguisorba obtusa Butterfly WeedAsclepias tuberosaa taproot makes division difficult. However, butterfly weed is easily propagated by seeds.Candytuft Iberis sempervirens Cardinal FlowerLobelia cardinalis Carolina LupineThermopsis villosadivision is difficult due to deep roots and slow re-establishment. Divide in early springCatmintNepeta spp. Chrysanthemum Chrysanthemum × grandiflorumdivide mums every 2 or 3 yearsCoral BellsHeuchera spp. CoreopsisCoreopsis spp. CornflowerCentaurea spp.requires frequent division every 2 or 3 yearsDaylilyHemerocallis spp. DelphiniumDelphinium spp.usually short-lived, division is seldom necessaryFalse Forget-Me-Not Brunnera macrophylla False IndigoBaptisia australisdivision is difficult because of its long taproot. Plants can be started from seeds. Divide in late fall or early spring.False Sunflower Heliopsis helianthoidesdivide every other year Fernsvarious Foam FlowerTiarella spp. Gas PlantDictamnus albusdivision is not recommended.  Start new plants from seeds.Globe ThistleEchinops ritrodivision is difficult, slow to re-establishGoat’s BeardAruncus dioicusdivision is difficult, root system is large and difficult to separateGoldenrodSolidago spp. Gooseneck Loosestrife Lysimachia clethroidesplants spread aggressively. Divide every 2 or 3 years Hardy GeraniumGeranium spp. Hibiscus, HardyHibiscus moscheutosdivide rarelyHostaHosta spp.plants can be left undisturbed for years.Jacob's LadderPolemonium caeruleum Joe-Pye WeedEutrochium purpureum Lady's MantleAlchemilla mollisrarely needs divisionLamb's EarStachys byzantina Lenten RoseHelleborus orientalisdivide immediately after floweringLigulariaLigularia spp. Lily-of-the-ValleyConvallaria majalisa rapidly spreading groundcoverMeadow RueThalictrum aquilegifoliumdivisions are slow to re-establishMeadowsweetFilipendula spp. Milkweed, swamp (rose)Asclepias incarnataa taproot makes division difficult. However, milkweed is easily propagated by seeds.MintMentha spp.divide often to control spreadMonkshoodAconitum spp.division is difficult, plants are slow to re-establish. Divide in early springObedient PlantPhysostegia virginianaplants spread rapidly. Divide plants every 2 or 3 yearsOrange ConeflowerRudbeckia fulgidadivide every 3 or 4 yearsOrnamental Grassesvarious Perennial SalviaSalvia spp. Phlox, GardenPhlox paniculatadivide every 3 to 4 yearsPhlox, MossPhlox subulatadivide plants immediately after bloomingPigsqueakBergenia cordifolia Pincushion FlowerScabiosa spp.divisions are slow to re-establishPrairie SmokeGeum spp.divide immediately after floweringPurple ConeflowerEchinacea purpureadivide every 3 or 4 years Russian SageSalvia yangii syn. Perovskia atriplicifoliadifficult to divideSea PinkArmeria maritima SedgeCarex spp. Shasta DaisyLeucanthemum × superbumtends to be short-livedSneezeweed Helenium autumnale Snow-in-summerCerastium tomentosum SpeedwellVeronica spp. SpiderwortTradescantia spp.plant rapidly spread. Divide every 2 or 3 yearsSpurge, CushionEuphorbia polychroma StonecropSedum spp. SundropsOenothera spp.difficult to divideToad LilyTricyrtis hirta TrilliumTrillium spp.difficult to divideTurtleheadChelone spp.divide in springWormwoodArtemisia spp.divide frequentlyYarrowAchillea spp.many of the yarrows spread rapidly. Divide every 3 or 4 yearsYucca, Adam's NeedleYucca filamentosadifficult to divide because of deep coarse roots

Which perennials can be divided in spring?

Question:

Answer:

Common Name	Scientific Name	Notes
Aster	Symphyotrichum spp.	divide every 2 or 3 years
Astilbe	Astilbe spp.	divide every 3 or 4 years
Baby's Breath	Gypsophila paniculata	division is difficult
Balloon Flower	Platycodon grandiflorus	division is difficult because of its long taproot
Barren Strawberry	Waldsteinia fragarioides
Beardtongue	Penstemon spp.
Bee Balm	Monarda spp.	divide approximately every third year
Bellflower	Campanula spp.
Black-eyed Susan	Rudbeckia hirta	divide every 3 or 4 years
Blanket Flower	Gaillardia × grandiflora
Blazing Star	Liatris spp.
Bugle Weed	Ajuga reptans
Burnet	Sanguisorba obtusa
Butterfly Weed	Asclepias tuberosa	a taproot makes division difficult. However, butterfly weed is easily propagated by seeds.
Candytuft	Iberis sempervirens
Cardinal Flower	Lobelia cardinalis
Carolina Lupine	Thermopsis villosa	division is difficult due to deep roots and slow re-establishment. Divide in early spring
Catmint	Nepeta spp.
Chrysanthemum	Chrysanthemum × grandiflorum	divide mums every 2 or 3 years
Coral Bells	Heuchera spp.
Coreopsis	Coreopsis spp.
Cornflower	Centaurea spp.	requires frequent division every 2 or 3 years
Daylily	Hemerocallis spp.
Delphinium	Delphinium spp.	usually short-lived, division is seldom necessary
False Forget-Me-Not	Brunnera macrophylla
False Indigo	Baptisia australis	division is difficult because of its long taproot. Plants can be started from seeds. Divide in late fall or early spring.
False Sunflower	Heliopsis helianthoides	divide every other year
Ferns	various
Foam Flower	Tiarella spp.
Gas Plant	Dictamnus albus	division is not recommended. Start new plants from seeds.
Globe Thistle	Echinops ritro	division is difficult, slow to re-establish
Goat’s Beard	Aruncus dioicus	division is difficult, root system is large and difficult to separate
Goldenrod	Solidago spp.
Gooseneck Loosestrife	Lysimachia clethroides	plants spread aggressively. Divide every 2 or 3 years
Hardy Geranium	Geranium spp.
Hibiscus, Hardy	Hibiscus moscheutos	divide rarely
Hosta	Hosta spp.	plants can be left undisturbed for years.
Jacob's Ladder	Polemonium caeruleum
Joe-Pye Weed	Eutrochium purpureum
Lady's Mantle	Alchemilla mollis	rarely needs division
Lamb's Ear	Stachys byzantina
Lenten Rose	Helleborus orientalis	divide immediately after flowering
Ligularia	Ligularia spp.
Lily-of-the-Valley	Convallaria majalis	a rapidly spreading groundcover
Meadow Rue	Thalictrum aquilegifolium	divisions are slow to re-establish
Meadowsweet	Filipendula spp.
Milkweed, swamp (rose)	Asclepias incarnata	a taproot makes division difficult. However, milkweed is easily propagated by seeds.
Mint	Mentha spp.	divide often to control spread
Monkshood	Aconitum spp.	division is difficult, plants are slow to re-establish. Divide in early spring
Obedient Plant	Physostegia virginiana	plants spread rapidly. Divide plants every 2 or 3 years
Orange Coneflower	Rudbeckia fulgida	divide every 3 or 4 years
Ornamental Grasses	various
Perennial Salvia	Salvia spp.
Phlox, Garden	Phlox paniculata	divide every 3 to 4 years
Phlox, Moss	Phlox subulata	divide plants immediately after blooming
Pigsqueak	Bergenia cordifolia
Pincushion Flower	Scabiosa spp.	divisions are slow to re-establish
Prairie Smoke	Geum spp.	divide immediately after flowering
Purple Coneflower	Echinacea purpurea	divide every 3 or 4 years
Russian Sage	Salvia yangii syn. Perovskia atriplicifolia	difficult to divide
Sea Pink	Armeria maritima
Sedge	Carex spp.
Shasta Daisy	Leucanthemum × superbum	tends to be short-lived
Sneezeweed	Helenium autumnale
Snow-in-summer	Cerastium tomentosum
Speedwell	Veronica spp.
Spiderwort	Tradescantia spp.	plant rapidly spread. Divide every 2 or 3 years
Spurge, Cushion	Euphorbia polychroma
Stonecrop	Sedum spp.
Sundrops	Oenothera spp.	difficult to divide
Toad Lily	Tricyrtis hirta
Trillium	Trillium spp.	difficult to divide
Turtlehead	Chelone spp.	divide in spring
Wormwood	Artemisia spp.	divide frequently
Yarrow	Achillea spp.	many of the yarrows spread rapidly. Divide every 3 or 4 years
Yucca, Adam's Needle	Yucca filamentosa	difficult to divide because of deep coarse roots