Finding the Correct Propagation Technique for Landscape Plants

This is a list of propagation techniques for a variety of landscape plants. You can learn how to perform the techniques recommended here by selecting each technique and following the simple instructions.

Arborvitae

Cuttings taken in mid to late summer can be rooted in coarse sand under intermittent mist. Cuttings taken in the fall can be rooted in coarse sand in an outdoor frame. Cuttings taken during the winter can be rooted in coarse sand with bottom heat.

Ash Trees

Collect the seeds when they ripen and plant them out right away. Most should germinate the first season.

Azaleas, Deciduous Varieties

Most deciduous Azaleas are grown from seeds collected in the fall and planted immediately. I would sow them in a flat, in an area where they can be kept warm and receive some natural or artificial light. You can also try softwood cuttings, preferably under intermittent mist.

Azaleas, Evergreen

The propagation technique used by most growers for evergreen Azaleas is the hardwood method done in the late fall with bottom heat. You can try softwood cuttings around June 1^st.

Barberry

Most varieties of Barberry can be done by either softwood cuttings in early June, or hardwood cuttings in the late fall.

Boston Ivy

Grow from seed and plant outdoors in late April or early May.

European Beech

Grow from seed and collect when ripe, then plant outdoors immediately.

Purple Leaf Weeping Beech

This variety must be grafted on to a Beech variety grown from seed.

White Birch

Grow from seed. Collect the seeds when ripe and plant outdoors in the fall.

Weeping White Birch

This variety must be grafted on to a Birch rootstock grown from seed.

Boxwood

Softwood cuttings in July under intermittent mist or hardwood cuttings in mid to late fall in and outdoor frame. Winter cuttings with bottom heat.

Burning Bush

Softwood cuttings in late May or early June and hardwood cuttings in late mid to late fall in an outdoor frame.

Weeping Cherries

Weeping cherries must be grafted on to a cherry rootstock grown from seed. Collect the seeds when ripe stratify 150 days over winter and plant in the spring. I have also had some success with softwood cuttings under intermittent mist.

Blue False Cypress

Semi-hardwood cuttings in late August under intermittent mist, or hardwood cuttings in the late fall with bottom heat.

Gold Thread Cypress

Hardwood cuttings in late fall with bottom heat. You can try some semi-hardwood cuttings in late summer under intermittent mist.

Clematis

Softwood cuttings in late spring and as with almost all softwood cuttings, intermittent mist will dramatically increase your success.

Cotoneaster

Propagation is easy by doing softwood cuttings in early June, or hardwood cuttings in late fall.

Flowering Crabapples

Most varieties of flowering Crabapple must be grafted or budded on to a rootstock grown from seed. Collect the seeds as they ripen in the fall and plant them outdoors immediately.

Daylilies

Propagate by division in the fall or the spring.

Chinese Dogwood

Softwood cuttings in early June or grow from seed. Collect the seed in the fall when ripe. Stratify in moist peat at room temperature for 100 days and then in your refrigerator for another 100 days, then plant outside.

Pink Dogwood

Softwood cuttings under intermittent mist in early June or you bud or graft on to a white dogwood seedling.

Red Twig Dogwood

Layering in April or May, or softwood cuttings in June, or hardwood cuttings in late fall. Propagation of this plant is extremely easy.

Yellow Twig Dogwood

Layering in April or May, or softwood cuttings in June, or hardwood cuttings in late fall.

Variegated Dogwood Trees

Softwood cuttings under intermittent mist in early June, or bud or graft on to a white dogwood seedling.

White Dogwood

Softwood cuttings in early June or grow from seed. Collect the seed in the fall when ripe. Stratify in moist peat at room temperature for 100 days, and then in your refrigerator for another 100 days, then plant outside.

English Ivy

Softwood cuttings during the summer beginning in early June.

Variegated Euonymus Varieties

Softwood cuttings beginning in June. Hardwood cuttings in the fall outside in a frame of course sand.

Firethorne (Pyracantha)

Softwood cuttings in June or semi-hardwood cuttings in the fall in a frame of course sand.

Fir, Concolor

Grow from seed. Collect the seeds in the fall and store them in a cool dry place until spring. Sow the seeds outdoors in the spring. Cover the seed bed with clear plastic until the seeds begin to germinate.

Forsythia

Layering in spring or fall, softwood cuttings in June, hardwood cuttings in the late fall or winter.

Washington Hawthorn

Grow from seed. Collect the seeds in the fall and plant them in an outdoor seed bed immediately.

Canadian Hemlock

Grow from seed. Collect the pine cones in the fall before they open and release the seeds into the air. Place the pine cones in a paper bag to catch the seeds as the cones open. Store the seeds in a cool dry place until spring, stratify for 30 days in moist peat in your refrigerator, and plant outside after the danger of frost has passed.

English Holly

Hardwood cuttings, late fall with bottom heat.

Japanese Holly

Medium softwood cuttings in mid summer, or hardwood cuttings in the fall in and outside frame of sand. Or hardwood cuttings in late fall or winter with bottom heat.

Honeysuckle

Layering in the spring, softwood cuttings in early June, or hardwood cuttings in the fall.

Hosta

Propagate by dividing in late fall or early spring.

Blue Hydrangea

Softwood cuttings, or division.

P.G. Hydrangea

Layering in the spring, or softwood cuttings in early June.

Junipers

Softwood to semi-hardwood cuttings in mid to late summer under intermittent mist. Hardwood cuttings in the fall in an outdoor frame, or hardwood cuttings in late fall or winter with bottom heat.

Leucothoe

Softwood cuttings in June or hardwood cuttings in the fall.

Lilacs

Lilacs must be budded or grafted on to a rootstock grown from seed. Either a lilac seedling or some growers use privet as a rootstock.

Linden Trees

Grow from seed. Collect the seeds when ripe and plant immediately.

Lirope

Propagate by division.

Magnolia

Some varieties are grown from seed, and others are budded on to these seedlings.

Maple Trees

Grow from seed. Collect the seeds when ripe and plant immediately.

Japanese Maple

Grow from seed. Collect the seeds when ripe and store until late fall. Pre-treat the seeds by soaking overnight in hot water, and then stratify in moist peat for 90-120 days in your refrigerator. Then plant them outside.

Weeping Japanese Maple

This variety must be grafted on to a rootstock grown from seed.

Mockorange

Layering in the spring, softwood cuttings in June, and hardwood cuttings in the fall and winter.

Mountain Ash Trees

Grow from seed. Collect when ripe and plant immediately.

Blue Myrtle

Propagate by division.

Oak Trees

Grow from seed. Collect when ripe and plant immediately.

Ornamental Grasses

Propagate by division.

Pachysandra

Propagate by division or softwood cuttings.

Bradford Pear Trees

Grow from seed. Collect when ripe and stratify in moist peat in your refrigerator for 60-90 days.

Flowering Plum Trees

Desired varieties must be budded on to a rootstock grown from seed. Collect the seeds when ripe and stratify in moist peat in your refrigerator for 150 days before planting outside.

White Pine Trees

Grow from seed. Collect the pine cones in the fall before they open and allow them to open in a paper bag to catch the seeds. Store in a cool dry place until spring, then sow them outside.

Weeping White Pine

Must be grafted on to a white pine seedling.

Austrian Pine

Grow from seed. Collect the pine cones in the fall before they open and allow them to open in a paper bag to catch the seeds. Store in a cool dry place until spring, and then sow them outside.

Mugho Pine

Grow from seed. Plant them outside in the spring.

Potentilla

Softwood cuttings in June or hardwood cuttings in the late fall.

Poplar Trees

Grow from seed. Collect the seeds when ripe and plant outside immediately. Also softwood cuttings or hardwood cuttings.

Purple Leaf Winter Creeper

Softwood cuttings in early June, or semi-hardwood cuttings throughout the summer.

Pussy Willow