Here is a little guide on various plants that you can propagate in your home garden. I’ve included the types of propagation where I’ve been successful (seeds, Layering, Division, Cuttings, etc.). If I can do it so can you! The links in the tables below will take you to posts I have written as a guide based on my experiences with propagating these plants. My propagation methods are not necessarily the only way or the best way but I have found success with them. I hope this is a helpful resource for you to propagate more plants.
Propagating Perennials
| Common Name | Botanical Name | Methods of Propagation |
|---|---|---|
| Agastache (Anise hyssop) | Agastache foeniculum | Cuttings, Seeds |
| Artemisia ‘Powis Castle’ | Artemisia arborescens x Artemisia absinthium | Cuttings, Layering |
| Asiatic Lily | Lilium | Division, Seeds, Leaf Cuttings/Bulbils |
| Milkweed | Asclepias incarnata | Cuttings, Seeds |
| Catmint | Nepeta racemosa | Cuttings, Division, Seeds |
| Coneflower | Echinacea purpurea, E. paradoxa, E. augustifolia | Cuttings, Division, Seeds |
| Hosta | Hosta plantaginea | Division, Seeds (may not come true from seed) |
| Montauk Daisy | Nipponanthemum nipponicum | Cuttings |
| Penstemon | Penstemon digitalis | Cuttings, Division, Seeds |
| Russian Sage | Perovskia atriplicifolia | Hardwood and Softwood Cuttings |
| Salvia | Salvia nemorosa | Cuttings, Seeds |
| Switchgrass | Panicum virgatum | Division, Seeds |
Propagating Shrubs and Trees
Trees and shrubs can be propagated from a variety of methods. Always get good, clean, disease free material when taking cuttings. For best results choose material from 1st year growth.
| Common Name | Botanical Name | Propagation Method |
|---|---|---|
| Arborvitae | Thuja occidentalis | Cuttings |
| Buckeye | Aesculus pavia | Seed |
| Boxwoods | Buxus | Cuttings |
| Birch (River) | Betula nigra | Cuttings |
| Crape Myrtle/Crepe Myrtle | Lagerstroemia indica | Cuttings, Seeds |
| Honeysuckle (Native) | Lonicera sempervirens | Cuttings |
| Ginkgo | Gingko biloba | Seeds |
| Grapes | Vitis | Cuttings |
| Hydrangea | H. macrophylla, H. serrata | Cuttings |
| Hydrangea (Oak Leaf) | Hydrangea quercifolia | Cuttings, Seeds |
| Japanese Maple | Acer palmatum | Cuttings, Grafting, Seeds |
| Leyland Cypress | Cupressus × leylandii | Cuttings |
| Magnolia, Sweetbay | Magnolia virginiana | Cuttings, Seeds |
| Ninebark | Physocarpus opulifolius | Cuttings |
| Plum, Fruiting | Prunus | Cuttings |
| Red Twig Dogwood | Cornus sericea, C. alba | Cuttings |
| Viburnum ‘Shasta’ | Viburnum plicatum f. tomentosa | Cuttings, Layering |
Propagating Annuals
| Common Name | Botanical Name | Methods of Propagation |
|---|---|---|
| Coleus | Coleus scutellarioides | Cuttings, Seeds |
| Impatiens | Impatiens walleriana | Cuttings, Seeds |
| Petunia | Petunia | Seeds |
| Zinnia | Zinnia elegans | Seeds |
Propagating Herbs
| Common Name | Botanical Name | Methods of Propagation |
|---|---|---|
| Basil | Ocimum basilicum | Cuttings, Seeds |
| Lavender | Lavandula angustifolia | Cuttings, Seeds |
| Oregano | Origanum vulgare | Cuttings, Division, Seeds |
| Stevia | Stevia rebaudiana | Cuttings, Seeds |
This page is in progress and will be updated periodically with information on how to propagate these plants. For specific information on how to propagate plants and links to posts on some of the plants I have propagated go to this post on basic plant propagation for home gardeners.
Two Cool Plants to Propagate in Spring: Agastache and Salvia
My addiction to plant propagation has reemerged from it’s winter slumber. It’s Spring which means it is time to get many kinds of cuttings ready for growing. It’s still early and many of the plants I’d like to propagate still don’t have adequate foliage but…
How to Propagate Crape Myrtles: Step by Step
This weekend I picked up some cuttings of a red flowering crape myrtle to propagate. I took 6 inch hardwood cuttings that were just beginning to leaf out. Since I didn’t have time to treat them right away I left them in a jar of…
Starting Japanese Maple Seeds
While the weather outside resembles that of the arctic I spent a few minutes starting Japanese maple seeds. I had two varieties of tree that I saved seed from this fall, ‘Sango Kaku’ and ‘Bloodgood’ (Acer palmatum). Both types of Japanese maples are fairly common…
Propagating Grape Vines with Greenwood Cuttings
I’m always looking for new plants to experiment on to see if I can get them to root. Yesterday I took some cuttings from a grape vine at my mom’s house. Grape vines are pretty popular with home gardeners who want to grow their own…
Propagating Perennials: Russian Sage, Salvia, and Coneflower
Spring is a great time for what? PERENNIAL PLANT PROPAGATION! OK, I get excited about making new plants and I wanted to share a little of what I’ve been working on in the garden. Spring really is a great time to take cuttings of your…
Plant Propagation Bench for Seedlings and Cuttings
I’ll continue with the Seed Starting 101 Series tomorrow but I thought I would use today’s post to share with you a related project. Recently I purchased a seedling heatmat that I’ve been testing in the garage to see how seedlings will grow out there. …
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I am an experienced gardener. For months I have been attempting to root coleus with NO success? As I have done for years, I put the cuttings in water in a clear glass near my kitchen sink, so I will see the roots easily. Instead of growing roots, the ends of the stems get very soft and fall apart. I do not give up easily, so I try more cuttings, with the same result. Does anyone have an idea what is going on?
What about using vermeculite?