Why Plant Crowns Are Important to Gardeners

By
Marie Iannotti
Garden Writer Marie Iannotti
Marie Iannotti
Marie Iannotti is a life-long gardener and a veteran Master Gardener with nearly three decades of experience. She's also an author of three gardening books, a plant photographer, public speaker, and a former Cornell Cooperative Extension Horticulture Educator. Marie's garden writing has been featured in newspapers and magazines nationwide and she has been interviewed for Martha Stewart Radio, National Public Radio, and numerous articles.
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Updated on 09/20/21
Reviewed by
Kathleen Miller
Kathleen Miller
Reviewed by Kathleen Miller
Kathleen Miller is a highly-regarded Master Gardener and Horticulturist who shares her knowledge of sustainable living, organic gardening, farming, and landscape design. She founded Gaia's Farm and Gardens, a working sustainable permaculture farm, and writes for Gaia Grows, a local newspaper column. She has over 30 years of experience in gardening and sustainable farming.
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Fact checked by
Emily Estep
Emily Estep
Fact checked by Emily Estep

Emily Estep is a plant biologist and journalist who has worked for a variety of online news and media outlets, writing about and editing topics including environmental science and houseplants.

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Tulips in a garden
Steve Satushek / Getty Images

One of the keys to being a successful gardener is knowing the technical information about plants. It's pretty simple stuff, but sort of like reading the directions before you use a new smartphone, it pays to know what's what before you begin so that your garden gets the best start possible. One of the plant's essential parts is its crown.

What Is the Plant Crown?

The crown is where the plant stem meets the roots. This is where the energy and nutrients from the roots are transferred to the stems and eventually to the flowers.

Perennials, Annuals, and Shrubs

Whenever you plant a perennial, annual, or shrub, you need to know what the crown of the plant is and how to handle it properly so the plant is healthy.

Whether they are planted in the ground or in a container, most plants are planted so that the crown is right at soil level. Burying the crown lower than soil level can often lead to crown rot and the eventual death of the plant, depending on the species.

Clematis and peonies are two of the few plants that do well when the plant crown is planted a few inches below soil level. Bulbs, like tulips and daffodils, and tubers, like tuberous begonias and cyclamen, are also planted with the crown slightly below soil level.

Fun Fact

When you plant perennials or annuals early in the spring, a little mulch covering the crowns provides a bit of protection in case of a late frost.

Trees

So where are the crowns of trees? The branches of a tree form its crown, and the shape of the crown is one of a tree's identifying characteristics. Larger trees that capture more light are said to have dominant crowns, and smaller ones, which need less light, are called understory trees.

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