Q&A: My [INSERT PLANT NAME] looks dead. Will it come back?
It’s early spring, and you’re wandering through the garden, assessing the winter damage. That once-thriving rosemary plant? Brown and brittle. The asparagus bed? Looks suspiciously empty. And those scraggly stems where your echinacea used to be? Not a single green leaf in sight.
So, do you pull them out or wait and see? Here’s how to tell the difference between plants that are truly gone and those just taking their time to wake up.
Annuals vs. Perennials: Who Comes Back?
The first thing to consider is whether your plant is an annual or a perennial—this makes all the difference in whether you can expect it to return.
🌱 Annuals: Live their whole life cycle in one season—grow, flower, set seed, and die. Examples:
Basil
Tomatoes
Peppers
Zinnias
Marigolds
Once these plants have completed their life cycle, they won’t come back next year (unless they reseed themselves). If your basil is brown and crispy from frost, it's time to pull it and start fresh.
🌿 Perennials: These plants return year after year, though many die back to the ground in winter before regrowing in spring. Examples:
Asparagus
Strawberries
Rosemary (sometimes!)
Thyme, oregano, chives, mint, lemon balm, sorrel, sage
Artichokes (in mild climates)
If a perennial looks dead right now, don’t panic! Many take a few extra weeks to break dormancy, and some, like rosemary, can be slow to recover after a tough winter.
Be Patient: Some Perennials Are Late Sleepers
Certain plants take their time waking up in spring. Before pulling anything out, wait a few more weeks and check for signs of life.
🌱 What to look for:
✔ Scratch Test – Gently scratch the bark or stem with your fingernail. If it’s green underneath, the plant is still alive! If it’s brown and dry all the way through, it may be time to say goodbye.
✔ Base Growth – Even if the top looks dead, check near the soil line for new growth. Herbs like oregano and thyme often sprout from the base first.
✔ Buds or Swollen Nodes – Look for tiny buds forming on stems or low on the plant. Some perennials, like figs and rosemary, seem lifeless but eventually push out new growth.
🌿 Patience Pays Off:
Asparagus & Strawberries – Don’t worry if they still look dormant. These perennials often wait for warmer soil before they start growing.
Echinacea & Rudbeckia – Late bloomers! They often don’t show signs of life until well into spring.
Rosemary & Lavender – May struggle after cold winters. If stems are green inside, wait it out and prune back dead parts later.
What About My Blueberry Bush?
If your blueberry bush has blossoms already, but there’s still a risk of late frost, take action to protect them on cold nights:
✔ Cover with frost cloth or a lightweight sheet
✔ Water the base of the plant in the evening (moist soil holds warmth)
✔ Mulch around the base to insulate the roots
If the blossoms do get hit by frost, you might see fewer berries this year, but the plant itself should still be fine!
Raspberries & Blackberries: Wait Before You Prune!
These berry brambles might look like a tangled mess right now, but don’t prune out dead-looking canes too soon. Many brambles leaf out later in the spring, and some varieties fruit on second-year wood.
✔ Wait to prune until new growth emerges. Dead canes will be obvious once the plant has fully leafed out.
✔ Scratch Test – Like other perennials, scratch the cane with your fingernail. If it’s green inside, it’s still alive!
✔ Check variety – Summer-bearing raspberries fruit on last year’s canes, while everbearing varieties can produce on both first- and second-year growth.
For now, leave everything in place until you see which canes are truly dead. This patience will ensure a better berry harvest and healthier plants!
The Bottom Line
If your plant looks dead but was a perennial last year, give it a few more weeks before pulling it out. Many plants are just slow to wake up, and with a little patience, you’ll likely see new growth emerging soon.
When in doubt, do the scratch test, check for base growth, and wait until late spring before making a final decision. Your garden might surprise you!
