Umbrella plant in November: monthly care

Darmera peltata requires very little pruning, but a tidy-up in November keeps the plant looking its best and prevents fungal issues over winter. By late autumn the large, rounded leaves will have turned attractive shades of bronze and red before collapsing with the first hard frosts. Once the foliage has died back completely and looks unsightly, cut it down to ground level using secateurs or a sharp knife. Remove all dead leaves and stems, as decaying material left in place can harbour slugs and encourage rot around the crown, particularly in the damp conditions this plant prefers. There is no need to prune during the growing season. If individual leaves become damaged, tatty, or diseased during summer, you can remove them at the base, but avoid cutting back healthy foliage—the large leaves are the plant's main feature and essential for photosynthesis. After the pink flower clusters fade in spring, you can deadhead the spent blooms if you wish, though this is purely cosmetic; leaving them does no harm and the seed heads have a certain architectural interest. No special tools are required beyond clean, sharp secateurs. Darmera's thick rhizomes sit at or just below soil level, so take care not to damage them when cutting back top growth. If clumps become congested after several years, you can lift and divide the rhizomes in early spring, replanting sections with healthy growing points and discarding any woody, unproductive portions. This rejuvenates the plant and provides new stock, but division is optional—established clumps can remain undisturbed for many years without issue.