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40 Shrubs and Vines to Root from Hardwood Cuttings (Tutorial)

Published on September 3, 2020Last updated November 18, 2021 โ™› By Melissa J. Will

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Starting new plants from hardwood cuttings is a slow but reliable way to grow free plants from many deciduous shrubs and vines. This step-by-step tutorial includes a plant list so you can propagate plants from your garden.

For more tips, see When to Take Plant Cuttings | Free Printable Garden Calendar. You can also get step-by-step instructions for spring softwood cuttings here.

Preparing hardwood plant cuttings for propagation by dipping the ends in rooting hormone.

Getting Started With Hardwood Cuttings

Propagating hardwood plant cuttings.

With each plant species, there are usually several ways to grow new plants from existing ones, and each method depends on the season and characteristics of the species.

For this tutorial, we are using hardwood cuttings from deciduous shrubs. These are shrubs and vines that drop their mature leaves and go dormant for the winter.

Hardwood is the fully mature section of plant shootsโ€”the parts that will not bend in your handsโ€”as opposed to the younger, pliable softwood growth that you can bend and twist.

We take hardwood cuttings for rooting in late autumn when the plant is going dormant for the winter, or in early spring before buds form and open. The example shown here is for late fall.

Overall, each cane provides several cuttings and for every 10 cuttings, I get about 6-7 new plants, but this can really vary, so do more than you need.

I say be patient because it does take about a year, and sometimes longer, for good, strong roots to form. But the advantage is that the cuttings are hardy and can be kept outdoors all year-round.

If you have room to stash a container outside or can spare part of a garden bed, itโ€™s really very little effort for a lot of plants. Besides keeping them watered when actively growing, there is nothing to do but cheer them on.


Contents

  • Plant List
  • How to Take Hardwood Cuttings
  • Resources


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Plants to Propagate From Hardwood Cuttings

These suggestions come from my own experiments and those of other gardeners. If you have success rooting hardwood cuttings other plants not listed here, please let me know.

Examples of plants to use for rooting hardwood cuttings.

Wait! Before You Plant…

Be sure any plants you choose:

  • Are recommended for your plant hardiness zone and growing conditions.
  • Are not invasive in your area.
  • Are suitable for your growing conditions including sun, soil, water, and wind.
  • Contribute to biodiversity by providing food, nectar, or habitat for wildlife.
  • Will not be too big for the space at mature size.

You can read more ecological gardening tips here.

About Plant Patents

Some plants areย patentedย and asexual reproduction is not permitted without permission from the patent holder. Patents and trademarks are usually listed on plant tags.

Abelia Abelia spp.
Bittersweet  Celastrus spp.*
Blueberry Vaccinium spp.
Broom Cytisus spp.
Butterfly bush Buddeja spp.

Chrysanthemum (genus)
Currants
Dogwood Cornus spp.
Deutzia Deutzia spp.
Elder Sambucus spp.
Euonymus Euonymus spp.*
Fig Ficus spp.
Forsythia Forsythia spp.
Gooseberries Ribes spp.
Grape Vitis spp.
Honey locust   Gleditsia triacanthos
Honeysuckle Lonicera spp.*
*beware of invasive species including L. japonica
Hydrangea
Ivy, Boston Parthenocussus tricuspidata
Jasmine Jasminum spp.
Laburnum Laburnum spp.

Mock orangeย Philadelphus spp.
Mulberryย Morus spp.*
Ninebarkย Physocarpus spp.
Planeย Platanus spp.
Poplarsย Populus spp.
Privetย Ligustrum spp. – can be invasive in natural areas: check for your region.
Pussy willowย Salix spp.
Rose of Sharonย Hibiscus syriacus
Roseย Rosa spp.
Russian oliveย Elaeagnus angustifolia* unless invasive in your area
Sand cherryย Prunus spp.
Spiraeaย Spiraea spp
Snowberryย bushย Symphoricarpos spp.
Trumpetย creeperย Campsis spp.
Virburnumย Virburnum spp.
Virginia Creeperย Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Weigelaย Weigela spp.
Willowย Salix spp.

*Watch for invasive species including Celastrus orbiculatus and Euonymus alatus and White Mulberry (Morus alba).


Fall Garden Checklist

Related: Fall Garden Checklist & Helpful Reminders



How to Take Hardwood Cuttings

This video shows the process:

YouTube video

These instructions provide a general overview and results will vary depending on the plant, its preferences for propagation, and growing conditions. Once you see the process, you can look up tips for specific plant types as needed.

The example here takes the cutting in fall, starts the rooting process, and stores the cuttings over winter in a sheltered outdoor location.


1Take Cutting

Timing

Take hardwood cuttings from deciduous shrubs and vines (see the suggested plant list) in the fall, after leaf drop and before the ground is frozen.

Clean Pruners

First, always clean your pruners or knife with rubbing alcohol, or 4 teaspoons bleach per quart or liter of water (for at least one minute) to prevent the spread of disease.

Selecting Hardwood Canes/Stems from Mother Plant

Choose new, straight, hardwood canes (from the past year) that are approximately 1/2โ€ณ thick.

Early morning is the best time to take cuttings when plants have their best moisture levels.

Leaf Nodes

The cuts will be made above and below the leaf nodes.

These are the little nubs on the canes where leaves grow from.

Removing Hardwood Canes/Stems from Mother Plant

  • When removing the cane from the mother plant, make a straight cut near the base of the plant, directly below a leaf node. This should be hardwood, not softwood.
  • Be careful never to damage the nodes when cutting.
  • Place the base of the cutting in warm water or damp paper towel.

Next, you will prepare the cuttings for rooting.


2Prepare For Rooting

Preparing Cuttings from the Canes/Stems

  • On your cane/stem, count 4 leaf nodes from the base cut.
  • Just above the top/4th leaf node, make an angled cut. Check the video to see how Iโ€™ve angled mine away from the leaf node.
  • Remove any leaves and buds from the bottom 3 nodes. Any growth can remain on the top/4th node.

Base versus Top

  • We can always tell the base from the top because the base has a straight cut and the top has an angled cut.

Preparing More Cuttings from the Leftover Cane/Stem

  • If there is more hardwood on the rest of the cane, you can prepare more cuttings from it. To check, make sure itโ€™s 1/2โ€ณ thick and hardwood (not bendable).

3Plant in Potting Mix

Rooting Hormone

Bottle of rooting hormone powder.
Rooting hormone powder

If you are new to this, see Rooting Hormone Tips for Plant Propagation.

  • Use rooting hormone and follow the instructions on the product label.
  • Dispense some rooting hormone powder in a separate dish.
  • Dry off the base of the cane and dip it in the powder.
  • Tap of the excess and place the cane in growing medium.

Growing Medium

  • Growing medium options include coarse builderโ€™s sand (not fine sand), coarse grit (I use bags of coarse poultry grit from the farm supply store), or a mixture of peat, perlite, and compost. If you have a friendly local grower, ask them what they like best.

Planting Depth

  • Plant the cutting so that two nodes are in the growing medium and the top two are above the soil. The new roots will form at these nodes.

Containers or in a Garden Bed

  • For containers, you can use winter-proof pots, plastic bins with drainage holes, or plant directly in a garden bed with the right growing medium.

Planting the Cutting

  • Before inserting the cuttings, make a hole (using a pencil or dibber) or trough in the growing medium. This will prevent the medium from rubbing off the rooting hormone.
  • Plant each cutting so that the two bottom nodes are buried in the growing medium, and the top two are above the soil.
  • Use plant tags to keep track of everything.

4Water & Grow Cutting

Watering & Overwintering

This method is used in zones 4-8. Because we are propagating hardy, hardwood cuttings, they are fine outside all winter long in a sheltered location and will resume growing in spring. This is one type of “overwintering“.

Unlike softwood cuttings which rely on photosynthesis for energy, hardwood cuttings do not require sunlight. Instead, they get their energy from their woody stores.

  • After planting, give everything a nice, deep watering, firm down the growing medium, and stash the container in the garden. A sheltered but sunny location is usually the best.
  • If high winds and icy conditions are likely, mulch your cuttings with straw or leaves.

Protect From Animals

Mesh waste basket from the Dollar Store.
  • If you have rabbits, deer, or vermin, you may need to add a protective barrier to keep them from snacking on your cuttings when food is scare during the winter.

    I like to use little cages made from hardware cloth or upside-down wire mesh waste baskets that allow air and water in but keep animals out. You might have something ready-made or need to make them yourself.

Winter

  • The cuttings will be dormant over the winter.

Spring

  • In spring, you should resume watering. New growth should appear on the top two nodes. This is a sign that new roots are forming.
  • During the spring and summer, you should see continuous growth.

Next Fall

  • By fall, most types of plants are ready for proper planting in your garden.
  • Growth will vary by species (of course). Some will be vigorous; others will be slow growers. Just like us.

Resources

Empress of Dirt

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How To Propagate Hardwood Cuttings

Includes plant lists from this article.

Propagating hardwood plant cuttings.
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The list of plants to propagate from hardwood cuttings is included in this ebook:

Ebook

Top Garden Tips Sheets ebook cover.

Top Garden Tip Sheets
Handy Checklists & Growing Tips

by Melissa J. Will

Grab readers’ favorite checklists and growing tips from Empress of Dirt.

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Plant Propagation

These are books I like for plant propagation tips and tutorials:

Propagation book covers
  1. AHS Plant Propagation | American Horticultural Association
  2. Plant Propagator’s Bible | Miranda Smith
  3. Grow Your Own Garden | Carol Klein

I hope you will try this. And happy growing.

~Melissa the Empress of Dirt โ™›

Growing hardwood plant cutting.
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5 from 2 votes

How to Root Hardwood Cuttings

Step-by-step instructions for taking hardwood cuttings from deciduous shrubs and vines to root and grow new plants for the garden.
Steps45 minutes mins
Total Time45 minutes mins
Author: Melissa J. Will
Cost: $5

Equipment

  • Snippers
  • Rubbing Alcohol
  • Flowerpot
  • Rooting hormone powder
  • Plant tags
  • Potting mix
  • Scalpel
  • Bamboo skewers
  • Plastic food bag

Supplies & Materials

  • 1 Shrub with hardwood stems

Instructions

Take Cutting

  • Clean snippers with rubbing alcohol.
  • Choose straight, hardwood canes (from the past year) that are approximately 1/2โ€ณ thick.
  • Remove stem at base of stem below a leaf node and immediately place cut end in warm water or damp paper towel.

Prepare For Rooting

  • Cut stem on an angle above every 4th leaf node, working from base up.
  • Pinch off lower leaves from lower 3 leaf nodes, leaving one set at top.

Plant in Potting Mix

  • Dip lower 2-inches of stem in rooting hormone powder and tap off excess.
  • Place stem in potting mix, coarse sand, or other growing medium, burying lower 2-inches and secure in place.

Water & Grow Cutting

  • Water thoroughly and continue watering as needed never allowing potting mix to dry out.
  • Place in warm spot outdoors with indirect sun. Can be left outdoors over winter.
  • When roots are 1-3 inches long, transplant to garden.

Notes

See the video for a step-by-step walk-through.ย 
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Melissa J. Will - Empress of DirtWelcome!
I’m Melissa J. Will a.k.a. the Empress of Dirt (Ontario, Canada).
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