Photo: Teun Spaans, CC BY 2.5 · source
Pruning guide · Perennial
Wood sage: when and how to prune
Teucrium scorodonia
Wood sage is best pruned in March.
| Pruning months | March |
|---|---|
| Flowering | July–September |
| Good for bees, butterflies and birds | Yes, for bees |
| Native to Belgium | Yes |
Wood sage: when to prune it?
From late February to late March, before the new growth gets going.
What else to prune in those months? March
Wood sage: how to prune it?
- Cut the old flower stems and the winter foliage back to a few centimetres above the ground or to just above the new shoots at the base.
- If you want fewer seedlings, cut off the spent spikes as early as September.
- Do not cut back in autumn: the old stems protect the base in winter.
How much to cut, and how often?
- One pruning period a year: March.
What does it mean for wildlife?
- Wood sage flowers in July–September, when it attracts bees.
- If you only cut back in March, the old stems stand through the winter: insects overwinter in them and birds eat the seeds.
- As a native plant, it feeds more insects than a non-native species.
Nearby: related pruning guides
This guide is compiled from the Bladwijzer plant profile and pruning calendar.