Skip to content
Pocket Botanist
Get the app

Wingstem · Verbesina alternifolia

Why is my Wingstem growing so leggy?

A leggy Wingstem is usually reaching for more light. If the stems are long and thin with large gaps between leaves, your plant is not getting enough sun.

Not sure it's this? Check a photo of your plant for free

leggy growth on a plant
Photo: Rosser1954, CC BY-SA 4.0

Check these first

  1. Assess the current light levels.
  2. Check if the plant is leaning toward a window or sun.
  3. See if the stem has been pinched back before.

Likely causes

  1. Insufficient Light

    Most likely

    How to tell: The stems are stretching and leaning toward the nearest light source. The leaves are smaller than usual.

    What to do: Move the plant to a spot with more direct or bright indirect light. If it is in deep shade, it will naturally become leggy.

  2. Lack of Pruning

    Possible

    How to tell: The plant is tall and sparse at the bottom. It has not been pinched back during the growing season.

    What to do: Pinch back the growing tips in late spring to encourage bushier growth. This forces the plant to branch out lower down.

Leggy growth in other plants

Find out what's wrong with your wingstem

The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play

When to worry

Legginess is mostly an aesthetic issue. It is only a major concern if the stems become too weak to support the flowers.

Stopping it coming back

Give the plant plenty of sun and pinch the tips early in the season to promote a compact shape.

Wingstem: leggy growth? Check yours with a photo

Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your wingstem and Pocket Botanist tells you which cause is most likely, how serious it is, and what to try first. A few checks a day are free. Save the plant and you get care reminders timed for it.

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play

Get the app · Or check it from a photo now, free

Questions people ask

Can I cut back a leggy Wingstem?
Yes, cutting it back will encourage new, fuller growth. Do this in the spring or early summer.
Does fertilizer help?
Fertilizer can actually make legginess worse if the light is low. Fix the light first.

More problems with Wingstem

Back to the Wingstem guide

This article was generated with AI on from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.