Roughstem rosinweed

Year-round

Roughstem rosinweed is a tall, sturdy summer bloomer that needs full sun and well-drained soil, and otherwise asks very little of the gardener.

• Plant in full sun for the sturdiest stems and best bloom
• Give it well-drained soil, it prefers lean, dry to average conditions over rich, wet ground
• Water only during establishment or extended drought once mature
• Stake or site away from open wind if stems lean, plants can reach five to six feet tall
• Leave winter structure standing until late winter rather than cutting back in fall

Its height works best toward the back of a bed rather than right along the front walk, where a lower planting reads more HOA-conscious.

Fall

Bloom finishes and the plant begins to die back as the Memphis area approaches its average first frost in late October.

• Let seed heads mature if you want birds to use them, otherwise cut back after bloom finishes
• Reduce watering as growth slows
• Leave sturdy stems standing through fall rather than cutting to the ground right away
• Good time to mark the clump's location before it fully dies back for winter

Winter

Top growth dies back after frost, and the plant overwinters as a dormant root crown through Memphis's mild zone 7b to 8a winters.

• Leave dead stems standing through winter for structure and seed for birds
• Cut back to the ground in late winter before new growth starts
• No watering needed during dormancy
• Well-drained soil matters most in winter, standing water can rot the crown

Spring

New growth emerges from the base as the Memphis area warms past its average last frost in early April, ahead of summer flowering.

• Cut away last year's dead stems if not already removed, to make room for new growth
• Divide or transplant now if the clump needs to move
• Water new divisions until they establish
• No fertilizer needed, it does best in lean soil

Summer

This is bloom season, with bright yellow flowers through Memphis's hot, humid summer months on tall, sturdy stems.

• Water only during extended dry stretches, it handles summer heat well once established
• Stake tall stems in exposed, windy spots if they begin to lean
• Deadhead if you want to limit self-seeding, otherwise leave flowers for pollinators
• Good air movement around the base helps in Memphis's humid summers