11 Easy-To-Divide Perennials That Will Multiply Your Blooms
A few years back, when I was still in the initial phases of my gardening journey, all I ever thought about before planting something was how beautiful it was going to look once fully grown.
Now, I tend to give a higher priority to plants that are easier to divide, as they allow me to split them into smaller sections and replant them. I guess priorities do change over time, eh?
Let’s take a look at 11 easy-to-divide perennials that can significantly multiply your blooms in the garden!
1: Hostas
Hostas are typically known for being one of the easiest plants to divide, thanks to their clumping roots that separate easily and can be planted in whatever way preferred. You want to divide this perennial into smaller root clusters and plant them, as doing so gives you the benefit of increased blooming and spread.
- Best divided every 3–5 years in early spring just as shoots first emerge, or early fall at least 4 weeks before frost.
Need a walkthrough? Here’s my guide on how to divide hostas in fall step by step.
2: Phlox
Phlox are easy to divide due to their shallow roots that stay near the surface of the soil and don’t need to be dug out with extra effort. By dividing them, you get more plants which results in a denser, more aesthetically pleasing garden.
- Best divided every 3–4 years in early spring or after flowering in fall to keep clumps vigorous.
3: Peonies
Many gardeners find peonies to be particularly easy to divide because of their tuberous roots. Like others, dividing them is a good idea as it allows you to acquire more peonies and add even more beauty and depth to the garden.
- Best divided every 10 years or more in fall after the foliage dies back. Only do so if blooms decline or plants are overcrowded.
And since fall is prime time, you might also want to check out other perennials you should divide in early fall.
4: Coneflowers
Not only do coneflowers look majestic in the garden, but they’re also super easy to divide thanks to their fibrous roots. You won’t have to worry about negatively affecting the plant or injuring its roots, allowing you to divide freely and grow the coneflower spread in your garden.
- Divide every 3 to 4 years in spring or early fall to maintain blooms and spread.
5: Yarrows
This perennial ground cover is another popular one in the realm of easy division. I’ve personally experimented with tons of different ground covers throughout my gardening journey and am yet to witness any ground cover more beautiful than low-growing yarrows.
Their roots can be separated easily, and dividing them encourages better growth and eventually leads to a fuller-looking garden.
- Divide every 2 to 3 years in spring or fall, to prevent overcrowding and encourage fresh blooms.
Dividing is just part of fall care, timing your cuts also matters. Here’s a handy guide to perennials you should trim in September for the best spring show!
6: Asters
Asters have clumping roots that make it very easy for you to separate and divide them. Roots can be separated without harm or injury, allowing for improved spreading ability and enhanced blooming.
- Divide every 2–3 years in spring or early fall to stops clumps from getting woody and keeps flowers abundant.
7: Geraniums (Cranesbill)
Not only are hardy geraniums (also called cranesbill) useful in the garden for attracting beneficial pollinators like bees and butterflies but they’re also super simple to divide, which means a higher potential for large-scale growth as well as increased number of blooms making your garden look fuller and more beautiful.
Quick note: Don’t confuse hardy geraniums with the more common annual pelargoniums (often sold as “geraniums” in nurseries), only cranesbill types are true perennials you can divide year after year.
- Divide every 3–5 years in spring or fall to rejuvenate the plant and boost flowering.
8: Coral Bells
Coral bells are easier to divide thanks to their clumpy roots that, like phlox, spread around the shallow surface of the soil and don’t really need to be dug out, which risks root damage.
Dividing coral bells makes the garden fuller and more vibrant while improving the overall health and longevity of your perennials at the same time.
- Divide every 3 years in spring or early fall; this resets the crowns and keeps foliage vibrant.
Some perennials, with the right division and care, can actually last a lifetime. Here are perennials that thrive for decades of blooms.
9: Blanket Flowers
Blanket flowers, too, have roots that clump together but still linger around the shallow surface of the ground. One can go about splitting and separating them without risking root injury or permanent damage.
One thing worth mentioning here is just how beautiful your garden will look with a bunch of blanket flowers blooming in it. It’ll be a true color heaven.
- Divide every 2 to 3 years in spring or early fall, to prevent decline in the center of the clump.
10: Catmint
Dividing your catmint plants is super simple and feasible. They don’t have those annoyingly tough roots that are impossible to separate, and, as a matter of fact, some may be able to do it effortlessly. By dividing your catmint plants, you’ll benefit from vigorous blooming that will surely take you by surprise.
- Divide every 3 to 5 years in spring or fall; this controls spread and keeps growth tidy.
And if you want even more color from your garden, here are perennials that bloom again when cut back in midsummer.
11: Stonecrop
Apart from offering beautifully vibrant flower clusters in shades of pink, purple, crimson, and blue, stonecrop also has a very special quality of being easily separable so that their flower base can be grown healthier and denser.
- Divide every 3 to 4 years in spring or early fall; this rejuvenates clumps and encourages fuller blooming.
I’m Rita, passionate about flowers, plants and growing my own vegetables at home. I live in an apartment, but I still have my garden, I intend to use all my knowledge to help you also have a lively, happy and productive garden (even in an apartment).