Starting new plants from hardwood cuttings is a slow but reliable way to grow free plants from many deciduous shrubs and vines.
For more tips, see When to Take Plant Cuttings | Free Printable Garden Calendar. You can get step-by-step instructions for spring softwood cuttings here.
Getting Started With Hardwood 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 (many) 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 shoots—the parts that will not bend in your hands—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, it’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
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.
Wait! Before You Plant…
Be sure any plants you choose:
- Are recommended for your plant hardiness zone.
- 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 are patented 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 orange Philadelphus spp.
Mulberry Morus spp.*
Ninebark Physocarpus spp.
Plane Platanus spp.
Poplars Populus spp.
Privet Ligustrum spp. – can be invasive in natural areas: check for your region.
Pussywillow Salix spp.
Rose of Sharon Hibiscus syriacus
Rose Rosa spp.
Russian olive Elaeagnus angustifolia* unless invasive in your area
Sand cherry Prunus spp.
Spiraea Spiraea spp
Snowberry bush Symphoricarpos spp.
Trumpet creeper Campsis spp.
Virburnum Virburnum spp.
Virginia Creeper Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Weigela Weigela spp.
Willow Salix spp.
*Watch for invasive species including Celastrus orbiculatus and Euonymus alatus and White Mulberry (Morus alba).
Related: Handy Garden Checklist: What To Do In Fall & Winter
How to Take Hardwood Cuttings
This video shows the process:
Please keep in mind that 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 1/2″ 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 I’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 it’s 1/2″ thick and hardwood (not bendable).
3Plant in Potting Mix
Rooting Hormone
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 builder’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.
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. The roots are going to grow from the bottom nodes.
- 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
- 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
The list of plants to propagate from hardwood cuttings is included in this ebook:
Ebook
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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Propagation How-to Books
These are books I like for plant propagation tips and tutorials:
- AHS Plant Propagation | American Horticultural Associate
- Grow Your Own Garden | Carol Klein
- Plant Propagator’s Bible | Miranda Smith
I hope you will give this a try. And happy growing.
~Melissa the Empress of Dirt ♛
How to Root Hardwood Cuttings
Equipment
- 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 1/2″ 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.
Sandra says
Thank you so much for your knowledgeable and easy to follow advice for gardeners. I give a gardening class monthly for our Sr Center Brain Health program and use a lot of the information and demos that are featured in your newsletter. Keep sharing.
Susan says
How to root hardwood cuttings.
Hi Melissa, This was a really great article! I have just one question. After getting the cuttings planted, would it be alright to keep them indoors and treat them like houseplants for the winter?
Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge! Susan
Melissa J. Will says
Hi Susan,
I’ve not seen indoor propagation of hardwood cuttings work with household conditions. I’m just familiar with sitting the whole thing outdoors or in an unheated greenhouse for the winter. We’re taking the cuttings when the plant is getting ready for a rest, so perhaps that’s why. If you experiment, let me know how it goes. Success may vary by species.
Ginny Street says
I’ve read your newsletter about propagation of hardwood plants. I’ve done my share of this, as a master gardener but I am confused about your directions to cut the canes at each fourth node. Would you use the other pieces for more cuttings?
Melissa J. Will says
Hi Ginny,
There are many ways to propagate these cuttings as you know and this is geared toward beginners who may not be familiar with the plants or methods.
I encourage burying two nodes in the soil for root insurance–one or both may produce roots and two are above the soil.
This also allows leeway for beginners in case they make a wrong cut–they will still have material to work with. It’s training wheels for new propagators.
The four-node method also accommodates a range of different species and the timing–some have much more tender tips that would not do so well outdoors in winter after propagating: by cutting lower on the stem, they are more likely to get the right hardwood.
And yes, one could get several plants from one stem with several nodes.
Hope that helps. One goal with many ways to achieve it.
Penelope Greenberg says
Some of the plants on your 40 Shrubs and Vines to Grow from Fall Cuttings are invasive in several areas. So glad to see you included checking for invasiveness in your instructions.
Melissa J. Will says
Yes, I’m a big proponent of checking local invasive plant lists before choosing or propagating plants. It should be the starting point of all garden planning: non-invasive, zone appropriate, pollinator-friendly.
Beth says
Thank you! This is just what I needed to see. If I put my cuttings in a larger container in the Fall, how long can I leave them there before having to pot them up? Wondering if they will last all winter in that smaller area and then if I can plant them in individual pots in the Spring?
Melissa J. Will says
Hi Beth,
They just sit dormant in the winter. They won’t resume growing until spring. New growth up top is a clue that roots are growing. At that time in spring you can plant them directly in the ground or in individual pots.