Remember when you thought gardening was just planting nice plants and watching them grow? Yeah… same here.
I used to spend a lot of money filling garden beds until I learned one of the best gardening tricks: some perennials basically make copies of themselves!
Did you know you can save over $200 a year just by dividing perennials instead of buying new ones?
The real game-changer in your garden isn’t special fertilizer or rare plants.
It’s these easy growers sitting in your yard, ready to multiply.
Nature’s Copy Machine: Why Division Creates Garden Magic
Don’t worry about tricky plant science. Dividing perennials simply means getting more plants that look and act exactly like the one you already have.
Your plants are basically saying, “I can make more of me!”
And when you divide these plants, you’re not only saving money. You’re also:
- Filling empty spots without spending more
- Refreshing older plants that are weak in the middle
- Making bigger, nicer flower displays
- Helping plants stay healthy longer
The Easy-Dividers: 11 Perennials That Divide Easily
1. Hostas: The Easiest of All
Hostas divide with almost no struggle. Their roots pull apart like soft bread.
The only difference between beginners and experienced growers is knowing when to divide: early spring or fall.
2. Phlox: Super Shallow Roots
I was surprised that phlox roots stay close to the surface. This makes dividing super easy.
You can sometimes pull pieces apart with your hands. You’ll get tons of colorful blooms that brighten your borders.
3. Peonies: The Long-Term Investment
Peonies may take a year to bounce back after dividing. Their thick roots separate cleanly, and here’s the crazy part: one divided plant can live another 100+ years.
That’s a huge return for a single split.
4. Coneflowers: Just Keep Splitting
Coneflowers (Echinacea) almost ask to be divided because of their soft, fibrous roots.
Most people wait too long to divide them. Split every 3–4 years for the best blooms.
5. Yarrows: Ground Cover Gold
Here’s something most people don’t know: yarrow divides easily and often grows better after.
These low growers are like a sourdough starter. Share pieces with friends and still have plenty left.
6. Asters: The Fall-Blooming Dividables
Asters bloom when most gardens are fading. Their clumping roots make dividing simple, like cutting a cake. You get more plants that add color right when the garden needs it.
7. Geraniums: Pollinator Favorites
Hardy geraniums (not the annual kind) divide easily. Their shallow roots pull apart like tangled cords; a little tricky, but totally doable.
Bonus: bees and butterflies love them.
8. Coral Bells (Heuchera): The Foliage Stunner
These shade-friendly plants divide well because their crowns sit right at the surface.
With tons of varieties from purple to lime green, dividing coral bells is like getting free colors for your shady areas.
9. Blanket Flowers: The Color Explosion
Blanket flowers (Gaillardia) give bright color without fuss. Their shallow roots separate quickly, kind of like peeling pancakes apart. One plant can turn into three fast.
10. Catmint: The Cat’s Meow
Catmint roots divide easily. Splitting older plants gives them new life, helping them grow fuller and bloom better. And yes, many cats like them.
11. Stonecrop (Sedum): The Drought-Tough Divider
These tough succulents come in lots of colors: pink, purple, red, and blue.
Their thick roots pull apart like orange slices. They handle division well and are hard to kill in the process.
When to Divide: Timing Is Everything
Most perennials divide best in early spring or fall when the weather is cooler.
This gives plants time to settle before heat or cold hits. Kind of like not wanting to move houses during extreme weather.
How to divide most plants: Dig up the whole clump, cut through the roots with a sharp knife or spade, replant the pieces, water well, and watch them grow.
Pro tip: Divide when plants are just starting new growth, before they bloom.
They bounce back faster and look healthier.
From One to Many: The Garden That Keeps on Giving
Remember that one hosta you bought three years ago? It could now be five plants just from dividing.
That $15 plant could turn into $75 worth of plants. And there’s something really satisfying about watching your garden grow from its own plants, like saving money, but with flowers.
So grab your spade and look at your perennials not as single plants, but as little starter families ready to grow. They’ll fill your garden without costing you anything extra.
