From our perspective, rooted firmly in the soil, our entire being is centered around a structure you call a rhizome. This is not merely a root; it is our life's command center, our storage facility, and our blueprint for future generations. It is a modified stem that grows horizontally beneath the soil surface, storing the energy we meticulously collect from the sun through our leaves. Over the seasons, a single rhizome can become large, crowded, and exhausted. The central, older parts may begin to falter, their energy spent on years of glorious blooms. This internal competition for resources—the old growth draining energy that could fuel the new—is why division is not just a suggestion but a vital rejuvenation for our long-term health and floral display.
Timing is everything. The ideal moment for this procedure is in early spring, just as you see our new, green shoots (eyes) emerging from the soil, but before they grow more than a few inches tall. From our viewpoint, this is the pinnacle of our annual energy cycle. Our sap is beginning to rise, and our growth impulses are at their most potent. Alternatively, you can perform this task in early autumn, after our flowering show is complete and our foliage begins to die back. At this time, we are channeling our energy downward, back into the rhizome to store for the winter and the next spring's growth. Dividing us at these dormant or semi-dormant times minimizes shock and allows us to direct all our energy into establishing new roots rather than supporting top growth or flowers.
When you lift our entire clump from the ground, please do so gently, using a garden fork to minimize damage to our root systems. Wash the soil away from the rhizome so you can clearly see its structure. You will notice the fresh, pale, healthy shoots emerging from younger sections of the rhizome, while the older central core may look woody or hollow. Your task is to carefully cut or pull apart the rhizome, ensuring that each new division has at least two to three healthy young shoots and a proportionate share of our fresh, white roots. Discard the old, central core. This act of division is, to us, a rebirth. It relieves congestion, removes unproductive parts, and creates multiple new, vigorous individuals from one.
Once divided, each new plant should be replanted immediately. Prepare our new homes with well-draining soil enriched with organic matter. Plant us at the same depth we were growing before, ensuring the crown—where the shoots meet the roots—is level with the soil surface. Water us in thoroughly to settle the soil around our roots and eliminate air pockets. This consistent moisture is critical in the following weeks as we focus our entire existence on re-establishing a strong root system. With reduced competition and a fresh supply of nutrients, each division will channel its stored energy into explosive growth. This process directly translates into more robust plants capable of producing multiple, stronger flowering spikes, ultimately resulting in the magnificent display of blooms you seek.
