Can I cut the flower off of my Hostas?

Question

I find the little purple, pink, or white flowers on my hostas to detract away from the beauty of the plant. I want to cut them off. I've been waiting until the flower gets old before cutting them off, but I'm still getting new flowers. Any harm in cutting off the new ones too?

Answer 1

You can cut them off at any time. No harm to the Hosta.

If you were trying to cross pollinate a new variety, you would need them for pollen and seeds.

Some varieties are fragrant, which I enjoy. Plantanginea Grandiflora, Aphrodite, both have large white fragrant flowers. Honeybells is fragrant,as are some others.

I also have a variety called Klausa, which means closed in German. With this variety, the flowers do not open, and it spreads rather than clumps.

TopCatt

Answer 2

Let the flowers fade you are taking away some food for the little hummingbirds.

When you do cut, cut down to the base of the flower stem.

Answer 3

Yes, you can cut them off.  It won't hurt the plants.  Actually it will allow the plant to put more energy into growing its lovely foliage, rather than spending energy on making flowers.

But do keep in mind that hummingbirds love hosta flowers.  By removing the flowers you might be depriving yourself of a great hummingbird show.

Answer 4

i remove most of mine as they come on... I don't like the looks of them either.... the ones that are shorter and have bigger flowers, those I'll leave... but those tall spikes that flop over are not a fave of mine... it doesn't hurt the plant at all... infact they don't have to put all that energy into flowers and seed, so are the better for it.....

Answer 5

no harm, cut 'em off, if you want.  Hosta are sooo hardy you can probably jump on top of the plant a few times and it will still come back to life in a month.

Answer 6

Cutting them off will not harm the plant.

Answer 7

BobKat beat me to it, yea, what she said. That is the reason I planted mine. For the hummingbirds

Answer 8

nopeee they'll evenutally die anyway so you might as well cut them and enjoy them!