When to Take Plant Cuttings (Season By Season)

Growing new plants from cuttings is a propagation method for many perennials including shrubs and vines. This seasonal calendar shows some of the plants you can propagate by softwood, semi-ripe, and hardwood cuttings throughout the year. I’ve also provided how-to resources so you can start right away.

If you are interested in sowing seeds, also see Seed Starting 101 which shares how I start many plants from seed indoors under an inexpensive homemade grow light setup.

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Propagating Plant Cuttings From Spring to Fall

Would you like to grow more plants from the ones you have?

One of the easiest propagation methods is to take cuttings and root them for new plants.

Not only is it faster than sowing from seed, but there are opportunities to take cuttings from spring to fall.

Growing from cuttings is suited for many of our favorite perennial plants, shrubs, and vines. Most annuals or “bedding plants” with a short life cycle are usually not candidates although there are a few exceptions.

I’ve provided a suggested seasonal plant cutting list below which you can also save it to your device.

Once you try rooting plants from cuttings, you may realize a few things like I did.

First, I wondered why I ever paid for young starter plants, since they are one snip away in the garden.

Next, I realized that plant propagation opens up a whole other dimension of gardening. Once you see how one cutting grows, you’ll want to try all sorts of plants.

To get an idea of how it works, this video tutorial on taking clematis cuttings shows one method:

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Contents

• When to Take Plant Cuttings
• Mid-Spring to Early Summer
• Summer Semi-Ripe Cuttings
• Fall & Winter Hardwood Cuttings
• Recommended Books
• Frequently-Asked Questions
  • What is the best time to take cuttings?
  • How long do cuttings take to root?
  • Can you take cuttings from bedding plants?
  • How do I take plant cuttings?

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When to Take Plant Cuttings

Spring is the time for softwood cuttings from many plants, perennials, shrubs, and vines. These young cuttings are eager to root but also at high-risk for drying out without proper care. See How to Take Softwood Cuttings for step-by-step instructions.

Summer is the time for semi-ripe cuttings, where the base of the shoots are hardening up (maturing) but the tips are still nimble. The softwood cutting method is used.

By autumn, the plant growth is mature. Fall and winter hardwood cuttings can be slow to root but more stable than tender young cuttings, allowing over-wintering in a cool greenhouse or under some protection outdoors—even in cold climate like I have here in Canada. See How to Take Hardwood Cuttings for step-by-step instructions.

The basic method is the same no matter what time of year you take the cuttings.

From there, softwood and semi-ripe cuttings rely on photosynthesis for energy. Hardwood cuttings do not require sunlight and instead get their energy from the woody stem.

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Mid-Spring to Early Summer | After Last Frost

Take cuttings from new growth.

Step-by-step instructions
How to Take Softwood Cuttings

Here’s some suggestions. Some plants can be rooted at various stages of growth and appear on more than one list.

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Related: Seed Starting for Beginners

Summer Semi-Ripe Cuttings

Take cuttings on maturing stems (base is hard, tip is soft) in late summer.

Step-by-step instructions for semi-ripe cuttings
How to Take Softwood Cuttings

Here are some suggestions:

*Some varieties are invasive in parts of North America.

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Fall & Winter Hardwood Cuttings

Take cuttings from mature stems in autumn after leaf drop but before ground is frozen or late winter just before bud-burst.

Step-by-step instructional video
How to Take Hardwood Cuttings

Here are some suggestions:

*Beware of invasive species including Oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus), Winged euonymus (Euonymus alatus); Russian olive Elaeagnus angustifolia, American Wisteria (Wisteria frutescens); *White Mulberry (Morus alba), and various Honeysuckle species.

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Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

1What is the best time to take cuttings?

For time of year, you can take cuttings any time the plant is actively growing from spring to fall. Some plants do best during certain growth phases. A good plant propagation book will provide specific tips. You can also find free plant propagation tutorials here.

For time of day, it is recommended to take cuttings in the morning when plants reach their peak hydration levels for the day.

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2How long do cuttings take to root?

We name the cuttings by the growth stage.

• In spring stems are green and flexible. These are softwood cuttings and can root fairly rapidly, taking a few weeks, although they are also the most vulnerable to drying out.
• By fall, stems start to become woody. These are hardwood cuttings and are slower to root, taking months or a year.

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3Can you take cuttings from bedding plants?

Some. The plants listed above are all perennials. Some annuals like basil, geraniums (Pelargoniums), and tomato plants can also be propagated from cuttings. The key to success is to learn which part of the plant can grow roots and at what stage of growth it is most viable.

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4How do I take plant cuttings?

Very generally, taking cuttings involves identifying a suitable plant shoot, cutting it off with a sharp, clean knife or pruner, at a specific location near a leaf node, and placing it in growing medium. Use of rooting hormone is sometimes recommended. For best results, choose a shoot that is not flowering or fruiting.

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See How to Grow Shrubs and Vines from Hardwood Cuttings for a step-by-step video if you would like an example to follow.

Specific instructions depend on the plant species and the time of year. Methods and opinions vary.

Fortunately, gardeners with different approaches often both get good results.

It is best to look up the plant you want to propagate and follow specific instructions for that species and growth stage (from spring to fall).

For example, try searching (in Google or Bing), ‘How to propagate (plant name) from cuttings’, and see your options.

Depending on whether it’s a softwood, ripe-wood, or hardwood cutting, there are a few different things to know.

Alternately, plants like begonias propagate nicely from leaf cuttings, so a specific tutorial is best.

Nature is a survivor. In the old days, gardeners propagated favorite shrubs by taking cuttings and sticking them in the ground. If conditions were right, they grew. Today we tend to fret about these things much more, perhaps putting too much attention on the wrong details.

Be willing to experiment and have fun with it.

~Melissa the Empress of Dirt ♛