5 Outdoor Plants That Are Easy to Grow From Cuttings
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Expand the beauty in your garden by growing new seedlings from fresh cuttings—this is a great planting option because the process is free and saves you a trip to the nursery.
To propagate new plants, simply take cuttings from your own plants or those of your friends and neighbors and follow the appropriate care instructions to help them grow into flourishing foliage.
But not all plants can be propagated this easily! Here, experts share five outdoor plants that are easy to grow from cuttings, complete with care tips to help them thrive.
- Michael Clarke, landscape architect, horticulturist, and founder of Yardwork
- Ward Dilmore, founder and head landscape designer at Petrus Luxury Estate Landscaping Company
Geraniums
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Geraniums have colorful blooms in many shades, including pink, red, purple, orange, white, and bi-color. These pretty, flowering plants are relatively easy to grow from cuttings.
“Geraniums root easily from softwood cuttings,” says Michael Clarke, landscape architect, horticulturalist, and founder of Yardwork. Softwood cuttings come from the new, tender growth sections of the plant and are usually taken in the spring or summer.
“To encourage growth, keep the cuttings in a warm, sunny spot in well-draining soil,” Clarke advises. “Water regularly, but avoid overwatering as they’re also prone to root rot.”
- Grow Zones: 9 to 12
- Light: Full sun, partial shade
- Soil: Well-draining, organically rich
Lavender
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Lavender is a fragrant perennial with grey-green foliage and signature purple blooms. This low-maintenance plant grows well from softwood or hardwood cuttings and thrives in sunny locations with dry soil.
“Lavender cuttings root well, especially when the cuttings are taken in late spring or early summer,” Clarke says. “Place the cuttings in well-draining, slightly sandy soil, and make sure they get plenty of sunlight.”
Lavender doesn’t like to be overwatered, so water sparingly to avoid root rot.
- Grow Zones: 5 to 9
- Light: Full sun
- Soil: Well-draining, dry
Mint
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Mint plants are hardy perennials that spread quickly and easily. This fragrant plant can flourish in full sun or partial shade. To propagate mint, pick a healthy sprig with bright green leaves.
“Mint is one of the easiest outdoor plants to propagate from cuttings,” Clarke says. “Simply place the cuttings in water until roots form, then transfer to soil.”
Mint prefers moist, well-drained soil and regular watering, but make sure the soil doesn’t stay too soggy.
- Grow Zones: 3 to 11
- Light: Full sun, partial sun
- Soil: Well-draining, loamy, moist
Camellias
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Camellias are perennial evergreen shrubs with rich, dark green foliage and showy flowers in shades of pink, red, yellow, or white.
“There are many beautiful varieties of camellias that grow very easily,” says Ward Dilmore, founder and head landscape designer at Petrus Luxury Estate Landscaping Company. “Camellia cuttings do well with rooting hormone before they are planted in a new growing medium.”
Camellias grow best from semi-hardwood cuttings, which means stems that are partially mature, taken in late summer or early fall. Once planted, they prefer shade to part sun for their ideal growing environment and thrive with rich, slightly acidic soil that drains well.
- Grow Zones: 7 to 9, some varieties hardy in zone 6
- Light: Partial shade
- Soil: Rich, moist, well-drained
Zinnias
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Zinnias are popular summer annuals that provide pops of color with blooms in pink, red, orange, purple, white, yellow, and bi-color and tri-color varieties.
“It’s a great summer annual that is sometimes forgotten,” Dilmore says. “Zinnias are very easy to grow from cuttings and are available in many different colors.”
When cutting, choose a healthy, 6-inch section of stem that doesn’t have flowers yet and strip the leaves from the bottom half. Zinnias prefer hot full sun, and keep an eye out for powdery mildew as the season progresses, Dilmore advises.
- Grow Zones: 2 to 11
- Light: Full sun
- Soil: Well-draining
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