What Are Clumping Plants?

Basic Information

• Plants that form the clumps from which divisions are taken are generally considered herbaceous perennials. The clumps they form develop from an extensive root system that expands, and as it does so, the plant above the ground spreads. Another manner in which clumps form is when multiple stems emerge from the plant root system. This is another manner in which these perennials spread.

What Are Perennials?

• Perennials are plants that, once planted, return for multiple successive years. Spring and summer bulbs are considered perennials as are many native flowering plants. Plants with woody stems such as Rose of Sharon and other types of hibiscus are also perennials. Some perennials grow to full size in a single growing season while others don't get as large. Most perennials that return over the course of multiple years spread out, both through roots and stems.

Why Divide Perennials?

• All plants need sufficient room to grow, spread out and to establish the root system that nourishes the plants and keeps them healthy. Most perennials enter dormancy at the end of the growing season, emerging the next year as bigger, healthier and more vigorous plants. Overcrowding will affect surrounding plants by limiting the space in which they can grow, develop and spread. Dividing plants is a way of creating multiple plants from a single parent plant. Separating plants by division is an excellent way to fill in empty areas in a garden, acquire new plants to place elsewhere and optimize the available space in which a replanted parent plant and other plants can grow and expand.

How to Divide

• Clumping plants typically form massive root balls that are held together by dirt. Dividing the plants is not difficult to do. Plants with heavy or woody stems are difficult to break apart by hand and will separate most successfully when sawed or cut apart with a sharp plant knife. Thin or delicate stemmed plants are easily broken apart by hand. Once the massive clump is separated, plant each of the divisions as soon as possible.