How To Deadhead Vipers Bugloss

Question

Hi there, I’m new to gardening and need a little help please, I have several vipers bugloss plants in my garden and would like to see if I can get a second flush of flowers by deadheading them, but do I cut the whole flower spike off or do I just pull off the flowers on the spike. Any help would be greatly appreciated thank you Alan

Answer 1

I couldn't find a source that said anything but "deadhead to prolong bloom," so I would cut off the spike. It would be too time consuming to pick off each bloom, plus they are a skin irritant. Here is more about them:

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/vipers-bugloss/growing-vipers-bugloss.htm
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/echium-vulgare/