Plant propagation using cuttings is a form of asexual reproduction that creates new plants genetically identical to a single parent plant. This method allows growers to clone desirable specimens quickly and affordably, bypassing the variability and time required for seed germination. Success depends on the maturity and type of plant material used, as well as the plant’s inherent ability to form new roots and shoots. Understanding the four primary categories of cuttings helps predict which plants will respond successfully to this cloning method.
Herbaceous and Softwood Stem Cuttings
The most straightforward plants to propagate are those with pliable, non-woody stems, categorized into herbaceous and softwood cuttings. Herbaceous cuttings are taken from plants that maintain soft, succulent, green growth throughout their lifespan, such as common houseplants and tender perennials like Coleus, Geraniums, Basil, and Mint. These cuttings have a naturally high concentration of auxins (growth hormones), allowing them to be rooted quickly in water or a basic rooting medium without additional treatment.
Softwood cuttings are taken from the new, flexible growth of woody shrubs and trees, typically harvested in the spring or early summer. The stems are still green and snap when bent sharply, indicating they are succulent yet sufficiently developed. Deciduous shrubs like Lilac and Forsythia, along with certain evergreens, are frequently propagated this way, rooting rapidly within a few weeks.
Semi-Hardwood and Hardwood Cuttings
Propagating permanent, woody landscape plants requires using material that has matured beyond the soft, new growth stage. Semi-hardwood cuttings are harvested in the late summer or early fall from the current season’s growth after it has begun to firm up and become slightly woody. Broad-leaved evergreens, including Azaleas, Boxwood, and Holly, are frequently propagated using this method. Because this partially matured tissue has a lower level of natural auxins, it often necessitates the use of a rooting hormone, such as indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), and rooting under high humidity.
Hardwood cuttings represent the most mature material, taken from fully ripened, dormant wood during the late fall and winter months. These leafless sections are used for trees, shrubs, and vines that require a period of dormancy to root effectively, such as Grapes, Willows, Lilacs, and many Roses. The propagation process is significantly slower, relying on the development of a protective layer of undifferentiated cells called callus over the wound site. Roots emerge from the tissue behind this callus layer, a process that can take several months while the cutting is stored in a cool, moist environment until spring planting.
Propagation from Leaf and Root Sections
Some plants can regenerate a complete organism from tissue other than the stem. Leaf cuttings are employed for plants where the entire leaf blade or a section of it can form both new roots and new shoots. This method is effective for plants such as African Violets, which root from the leaf petiole, and Begonias, where new plantlets emerge directly from cut veins. Many succulents, including Sansevieria (Snake Plant) and Echeveria, can also be multiplied from leaf sections, especially when their stem structure is too short or difficult to use for standard cuttings.
Root cuttings are the final category, utilized for plants that readily produce new shoots from harvested root sections. Plants that naturally send up suckers or shoots from their root systems are excellent candidates for this method, including Raspberries, Blackberries, Hostas, and Oriental Poppies. Root sections are typically collected during the dormant season when the roots are rich in stored carbohydrates and capable of regenerating both a new root system and an above-ground structure.