With so many forms of plant propagation, choosing one can be overwhelming. What works for some plant species doesn’t work for others. That’s why you should know what method to use for a particular plant before starting a propagation project. Here is a list of different plant varieties and the best propagation methods for each one.
Propagation Techniques by Plant
Arborvitae
Arborvitae cuttings are rooted in coarse sand or another suitable medium. Using intermittent misting during the summer months is recommended. Rooting cuttings in the fall should be done with the help of a cold frame. A seedling heat mat for bottom heat is a lifesaver during the colder winters.
Ash Trees
Ash tree seeds should be collected when ripe and planted outdoors immediately. There is a high success rate in germination in the first season.
Azaleas (Deciduous)
Deciduous Azaleas seeds should be collected in the fall and planted as soon as possible. You will need a propagation tray or flat to plant the seeds in – they should be kept under warm natural or artificial light. Propagation of Azaleas can also be done by softwood cuttings, with a higher success rate when using intermittent mist.
Azaleas (Evergreen)
Generally, Evergreen Azaleas are propagated by hardwood cuttings taken in the late fall. For successful propagation, we recommend using a seedling mat – it provides bottom heat for your cuttings. Alternatively, you can clone this plant with softwood cuttings taken in the late spring.
Barberry
Barberry varieties can be propagated either by softwood or hardwood cuttings. Softwood cuttings should be taken in late spring, while hardwood cuttings are available in the late fall.
Basil
Propagating Basil is simple by using softwood cuttings. Softwood cuttings can be taken anytime during the summer months. Alternatively, you can propagate Basil by planting seeds. The plant can be rooted indoors year-round under fluorescent plant growth lights.
Beautyberry
Softwood cuttings are useful when propagating Beautyberry. The cutting can be taken any time during the summer, starting in early June.
Beauty bush
Beauty bush is another plant propagated by taking softwood cuttings during the summer months beginning in early June.
Beech (European)
Seeds are needed to propagate European Beech. Seeds should be collected when ripe and planted outdoors immediately after.
Beech (Purple Leaf Weeping)
To propagate Purple Leaf Weeping Beech, you first have to grow a Beech variety from seed. Then Purple Leaf Weeping Beech is grafted onto your grown Beech.
Birch (White)
White Birch is propagated from seed. They should be collected when ripe and planted outdoors during the autumn months.
Birch (Weeping White)
Grafting is the only way to reproduce Weeping White Birch. Attach your plant variety onto a Birch rootstock. For that, you first have to grow a Birch from seed.
Blue Mist Shrub
Blue Mist Shrub (Caryopteris x clandonensis) is propagated by softwood cuttings – the cuttings can be taken anytime during the summer months beginning in early June.
Boston Ivy
Plant enthusiasts can grow Boston Ivy from seeds planted outdoors in mid-spring.
Boxwood
Boxwood can be propagated in a few ways. Use softwood cuttings in early summer and an intermittent mist for a consistent watering routine. Alternatively, hardwood cuttings can be used if you have a cold frame. Using a bottom heat mat makes it possible to root Boxwood in the winter.
Burning Bush
Burning Bush can be reproduced either by softwood cuttings or by hardwood cuttings. Softwood cuttings are taken in late May or early June. The latter is taken from mid to late fall and rooted in an outdoor cold frame.
Butterfly Bush
Like many other plants, Butterfly Bush (Buddleia davidii) is propagated by softwood cuttings that are cut anytime during the summer. You can take your cuttings as soon as early June.
Cherries (Weeping)
To propagate Weeping Cherries, grow a regular cherry plant from seeds. The seeds are collected when ripe, stratified for 150 over the winter, and planted in spring. The cherry plant is used as a rootstock, and a Weeping Cherry is grafted onto it. It is also possible to reproduce the plant from softwood cuttings.
Chinese Stranvaesia
During the summer months of June and July, Chinese stranvaesia can be grown from cuttings.
Clematis
To propagate Clematis, take softwood cuttings in late spring and use an intermittent mist system to guarantee a successful result.
Cotoneaster
Reproducing Cotoneaster is easy and can be done with softwood and hardwood cuttings.
Crabapple (Flowering)
Budding or grafting are two methods used for propagating Crabapple. Crabapple trees are budded or grafted onto a rootstock. To grow the rootstock, collect the seeds as they ripen in autumn and immediately plant them outdoors.
Crape Myrtle
Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia) is reproduced by softwood cuttings. And as with all softwood cuttings, they are available in summer.
Cypress (Blue False)
For best results, Blue False Cypress should be reproduced by semi-hardwood cuttings that can be taken in late August. Then the cuttings are rooted under intermittent mist. However, it is also possible to propagate this plant by hardwood cuttings if you have a seedling heat mat for bottom heat.
Cypress (Gold Thread)
Gold Thread Cypress is propagated from hardwood cuttings or semi-hardwood cuttings. Provide the cuttings with bottom heat if you’re using hardwood cuttings. For semi-hardwood cuttings, use an intermittent mist system.
Daphne
Softwood cuttings are used to propagate Daphne (Daphne caucasica). The cuttings are ready to be made as soon as June.
Daylilies
The best way to reproduce Daylilies is by division. Spring and fall are the best times for this project.
Dogwood (Chinese)
Chinese Dogwoods can be grown from seed or cuttings. The seeds can be picked in the fall. If you want to plant outside, plant the seeds in moist peat moss for 100days. Store the seeds in a refrigerator for another 100 days, and they will be ready to plant outside.
Give it a read
Dogwood (Pink)
Using softwood cuttings is an easy way to propagate Pink Dogwoods. Grafting is also an option that works – bud or graft Pink Dogwood onto a White Dogwood seedling.
Dogwood (Red Twig)
There are many ways to propagate Red Twig Dogwoods that can be done during multiple seasons. Layering is the best method if you want to start your propagation project in April or May. In June, you can use softwood cuttings. In the late autumn months, hardwood cuttings are ready to be taken. Propagation of this tree is extremely easy.
Dogwood (Yellow Twig)
Similarly, with the Red Twig Dogwood, Yellow Twig Dogwood can be propagated by layering, softwood cuttings, or hardwood cuttings.
Dogwood (Variegated)
To propagate Pink Dogwood, you can use either softwood cuttings or grafting. Try out both to find out which method you prefer.
Dogwood (White)
One way to reproduce White Dogwood is by softwood cuttings. Or you can grow them from seed if you have enough patience. You can find ripe seeds in the fall. Store them in moist peat moss at approximately 70 degrees for 100 days and then in a refrigerator for an additional 100 days. Only then are they ready to be planted.
Elders
Elders are plants easy to propagate – perfect for beginners. To reproduce this plant, collect some softwood cuttings anytime in the summer.
English Ivy
English Ivy is another plant reproduced from softwood cuttings.
Enkianthus
Using softwood cuttings to propagate Enkianthus (Enkianthus campanulatus) is simple.
Euonymus (Variegated Varieties)
Euonymus can be cloned by softwood or hardwood cuttings. If you want to use softwood cuttings, collect them during the summer. However, hardwood cuttings are cut in the fall and kept in a cold frame bed of coarse sand outdoors works well too.
Firethorne (Pyracantha)
Pyracantha can be propagated in summer from softwood cuttings. Alternatively, you can cut semi-hardwood cuttings in the fall and root them outdoors in a cold frame-enclosed bed of coarse sand.
Fir (Concolor)
Concolor Fir is grown from seed. The seeds are collected in the fall and stored in a cool and dry place over the winter. They are ready to be planted outdoors in the spring. Cover the seed bed with a clear plastic cover to retain humidity until the seeds have started to germinate. Trust us – it guarantees good results.
Flowering Quince
Flowering quince (Chaenomeles speciosa) is another plant that is propagated by softwood cuttings. It is an easy plant to reproduce – great for newbies.
Forsythia
Layering, softwood cuttings, and hardwood cuttings are used to propagate Forsythia.
Hawthorn (Washington)
Grow Washington Hawthorn trees from seeds – collect them in the fall and plant them immediately in an outdoor seed bed.
Hemlock (Canadian)
Canadian Hemlock trees are grown from seed. Collect pine cones in the fall – this ensures they are collected before they open and release their seeds into the air. Place the cones in a bag to catch the seeds as the cones open, and store the seeds in a cool and dry place over the winter months. In spring, stratify the seeds for 30 days by placing them in moist peat moss in your refrigerator, then plant them outside.
Holly (English)
Take hardwood cuttings of the English Holly in late fall to propagate the plant. Using a bottom heat produced via a seedling heat mat greatly enhances success rates.
Holly (Japanese)
Both softwood and hardwood cuttings work to grow Japanese Holly.
Honeysuckle
Propagating Honeysuckle can be done by layering, softwood cuttings, or hardwood cuttings. Layering is done in the spring, softwood cuttings are found in summer, and hardwood cuttings are collected during fall.
Hosta
Hosta is a plant that is propagated by a method called division.
Hydrangea (Blue)
You can either use division or softwood cuttings to propagate Hydrangea. Both techniques are easy to follow.
Hydrangea (PeeGee or P.G.)
A popular method for propagating PeeGee Hydrangea is layering. Alternatively, you can collect softwood cuttings in late May or early June and use them for your project.
Japanese Maple
Grow Japanese Maple from seed. Ripe seeds are stored until late fall and then pre-treated by soaking overnight in hot water. Then they are kept in moist peat for 90-120 days in a refrigerator. After that, the seeds are ready to be planted outside.
Junipers
The best way for rooting Junipers is either by softwood or semi-hardwood cuttings. However, it is also possible to propagate Junipers using hardwood cuttings.
Kerria
Kerria (Kerria japonica) is a plant easy to reproduce. Generally, it is done using softwood cuttings taken anytime in the summer.
Large Fothergilla
Softwood cuttings are also used to propagate Large Fothergilla (Fothergilla major).
Leucothoe
Both softwood and hardwood cuttings are handy when propagating Leucothoe. Both methods are easy to follow and promise good results.
Lilacs
Lilacs must be budded or grafted onto a rootstock grown from seed. Alternatively, Lilacs can also be propagated using the help of softwood cuttings – this is a more advanced technique for this plant.
Linden Trees
Linden trees grow from seed. Plant the seeds as soon as possible after collecting them.
Lirope
Division is the best technique for propagating Lirope.
Magnolia
There are different varieties of Magnolia trees, and they are propagated in different ways. Some are grown from seed, while others are budded directly onto seed-produced seedlings. Magnolias can also be propagated using softwood cuttings – however, this is quite difficult to do successfully.
Maple Trees
Grow Maple trees from ripe seeds planted immediately outdoors.
Mockorange
Mockorange is easily reproduced by layering. However, if you want to use softwood or hardwood cuttings, that works too!
Mountain Ash Trees
Collect Mountain Ash Trees seeds when ripe and plant them outside – this is a simple way to propagate these trees.
Myrtle (Blue)
Blue Myrtle is usually propagated by division.
Oak Trees
Most oak trees are grown directly from seed. The seeds are collected when ripe and planted outside. Cannot get any easier than that!
Ornamental Grasses
Division is a simple way to propagate Ornamental Grasses.
Pachysandra
There are two methods to propagate Pachysandra – you can choose between division and softwood cuttings.
Pear (Bradford)
Seeds are needed to grow Bradford Pear trees. They are collected when ripe and stratified in moist peat moss in a refrigerator for any time between 60 and 90 days. After that, you can plant them.
Plum Trees (Flowering)
Grow a plum tree from ripe seeds – the seeds are kept in moist peat in your refrigerator for 150 days and then planted. That serves as a rootstock. Graft the desired variety of the plant onto your rootstock.
Pine (Austrian)
Austrian Pine trees are propagated by seeds. The cones are collected before they open and kept in a bag until they do – in this way, the seeds will be left in the bag. The seeds should then be kept in a cool and dry place over the winter. In the spring, plant them outdoors.
Pine (Mugho)
Seeds are necessary to propagate Mugho Pine trees. They are propagated in the same way as Australian Pine trees.
Pine (Weeping White)
Unlike Australian and Mugho Pine trees, Weeping White Pines can’t be reproduced by seeds. Grafting is the best method for propagating Weeping White Pines.
Pine (White) Trees
White Pine is grown from seeds like Australian and Mugho Pines. Collect unopened pine cones, collect their seeds and plant them in the spring.
Potentilla
The best way to propagate Potentilla is by hardwood or softwood cuttings. The only difference between the two is the time the cuttings are made.
Poplar Trees
Poplar trees are propagated by hardwood cuttings, softwood cuttings, or seeds. If you opt for seeds, collect them when ripe and plant them outside immediately.
Privet
Many forms of propagation can be used to propagate Privets, such as layering, softwood cuttings, and hardwood cuttings.
Purple Leaf Winter Creeper
Propagate Purple Leaf Winter Creeper by cuttings – you can use softwood cuttings in early June or semi-hardwood cuttings taken throughout the summer months.
Pussy Willow
Softwood cuttings, hardwood cuttings, and layering are common ways of propagating Pussy Willow.
Red Bud Trees
Grow Red Bud trees from seeds. The seeds are ready to be collected when they are ripe, and you can plant them outdoors immediately.
Rhododendrons
Many forms of propagation work for growing Rhodes – the chosen method should depend on the variety of the plant you are propagating.
Most heirloom varieties are grown from seed. Collect seeds during the fall and plant them in a propagation tray. Place the flat under a grow light in an area where the temperature will stay around 70 degrees F.
Cuttings are used for Hybrid varieties. Softwood cuttings are rooted under intermittent mist. Alternatively, use hardwood cuttings and root them in peat moss and perlite mix in the late fall using bottom heat provided by a seedling heat mat.
Rose of Sharon
Softwood cuttings, hardwood cuttings, and layering are all methods for propagating the Rose of Sharon.
Rugosa Rose
Rugosa rose (Rosa rugosa) should be propagated using softwood cuttings.
Sandcherry (Purple)
Layering, softwood cuttings, and hardwood cuttings are three ways for Propagate Purple Sandcherry propagation.
Serviceberries
The best method for Serviceberries (Amelanchier spp.) propagation is softwood cuttings. The cuttings can be taken anytime in the summertime starting from June.
Slender Deutzia
Slender deutzia (Deutzia gracilis) is another plant reproduced from softwood cuttings.
Smoke Tree
Softwood cuttings are also used to propagate the Smoke tree (Cotinus coggygria).
Spiraea
The most common techniques used for the successful propagation of Spiraea are layering, softwood cuttings, and hardwood cuttings.
Spruce (Colorado Blue)
Grow Colorado Blue Spruce from seed. Collect pine cones before they open in the fall and let them open in a paper bag to catch the seeds. Over the winter, store the seeds in a cool and dry place, then plant them directly outside in the spring.
Spruce (Dwarf Alberta)
Dwarf Alberta Spruce trees are rooted by softwood or hardwood cuttings.
Stewartia
Softwood cuttings are used to propagate Stewartia (Stewartia pseudocamellia). The cuttings are available in the summer months.
Summersweet
Softwood cuttings also come in handy for successfully growing Summersweet (Clethra alnifolia).
Sweetshrub
Sweetshrub (Calycanthus floridus) is another plant grown from softwood cuttings.
Viburnum
There are three ways to propagate Viburnum – you can use layering, softwood cuttings, or hardwood cuttings.
Virginia Sweetspire
Plant enthusiasts propagate Virginia sweetspire (Itea Virginia) using softwood cuttings cut during summer months.
Weigela
Weigela plants are reproduced by layering, softwood cuttings, or hardwood cuttings. All methods are easy to follow.
Wisteria
Growing Wisteria is not hard and can be done through layering, by taking softwood cuttings, or by taking hardwood cuttings. Each method is used in a different season.
Weeping Japanese Maple
There is only one way to propagate Weeping Japanese Maples, and that is by grafting.
Weeping Willow
Weeping Willows are another plant propagated in several different ways. Whether you opt for softwood cuttings, hardwood cuttings, or layering, all of those methods have shown success.
Wintercreeper
Wintercreeper (Euonymus fortunei) is propagated by softwood cuttings.
Winter Hazel
Using softwood cuttings is a popular way to propagate Winter hazels (Corylopsis).
Witch Hazel
Layering, softwood cuttings, and hardwood cuttings are the best techniques for plant lovers wanting to propagate Witch Hazel.
Yews (Taxus)
Both softwood and hardwood cuttings work for the propagation of Yews. Softwood cuttings should be taken between early July and early August. If you opt for hardwood cuttings, take them in the fall and root them in coarse sand outside in a cold frame.
Yucca
If you want to propagate Yucca, you need to take cuttings of the roots in the early spring and plant them outside.
