Starting a garden is one of the most satisfying hobbies around—but let’s be honest, growing plants from seed can test your patience. Between slow germination and unpredictable success rates, it’s easy to feel discouraged, especially if you’re just getting started.
Luckily, there’s a shortcut that skips the waiting and increases your chances of success: propagating plants from cuttings.
This method allows you to create exact copies of your favorite plants—meaning the same appearance, growth habit, and even yield. Plus, it’s budget-friendly and a fun way to fill your garden with lush greenery without spending a dime.
Why Choose Cuttings Over Seeds?
Growing plants from cuttings offers some clear advantages:
- Faster growth – Cuttings come from already mature plants and root quicker than seeds.
- Guaranteed traits – Your new plant will be genetically identical to the parent.
- Cost-effective – No need to buy more plants when you can multiply the ones you have.
- Great for hard-to-find seeds – Some plants don’t even produce viable seeds.
- Higher success for some species – Certain plants root better from cuttings than they do from seed.
What You Should Know Before You Start
Before diving in, it’s important to understand:
- The different types of cuttings used for propagation.
- The best rooting methods to encourage healthy growth.
- Which plants respond best to this technique.
Types of Cuttings You Can Take
Here’s a breakdown of the most common types:
- Hardwood Cuttings
- Taken from mature, woody stems (usually in fall or winter).
- Great for shrubs, trees, and herbs like rosemary.
- Softwood Cuttings
- Taken in spring from tender new growth.
- Perfect for herbs like basil and flowers like fuchsia.
- Semi-Ripe Cuttings
- Taken mid-to-late summer from stems that are partially matured.
- Ideal for plants like sage.
- Heel Cuttings
- Include a small piece of the parent stem.
- Commonly used for plants like holly or rosemary.
- Tip Cuttings
- Taken from the growing tips (4–8 inches).
- Good for lavender, basil, and geraniums.
- Basal Cuttings
- Taken from the base of a shoot near the main stem.
- Best for perennials like phlox and delphiniums.
- Leaf Cuttings
- Used for succulents, snake plants, and begonias.
- Entire new plants grow from just the leaf.
- Stem Section Cuttings
- Taken from cane-forming plants like Chinese evergreen.
- Laid flat to root.
- Root Cuttings
- Taken directly from the plant’s roots.
- Best for horseradish or California tree poppy.
How to Successfully Root Cuttings
- Let Cuttings Dry (If Needed)
Succulents and fleshy stems need to dry for a day or two to form a callus before planting. - Choose the Right Soil
Skip the garden soil. Use a mix of peat moss, perlite, and sand for best drainage and moisture. - Skip Fertilizers Early On
Fertilizers can harm unrooted cuttings. Use a rooting hormone for tougher stems. - Create a Humid Environment
Cover your cuttings with a plastic bag or dome to mimic a greenhouse and reduce water loss. - Keep Moist, Not Wet
Overwatering can lead to rot. Lightly mist and ensure your container drains well.
20 Easy-to-Grow Plants from Cuttings
Here are 20 plants that root well from cuttings—and how to grow them:
- Lavender
- Type: Tip cuttings
- Time: Late spring to early summer
- How: Use 3–4″ non-flowering stems. Root in sand and peat mix.
- Rooting: 3–4 weeks
- Rosemary
- Type: Heel or basal
- Time: Spring or fall
- How: 4–6″ cuttings in sandy compost, kept humid
- Tip: Keep away from direct sun while rooting
- Rose
- Type: Hardwood
- Time: Fall to winter
- How: 6–8″ cuttings, ⅔ buried in soil
- Care: Moist soil throughout winter
- Thyme
- Type: Tip
- Time: Mid to late summer
- How: Use rooting hormone and keep humid
- Rooting: 2–3 weeks
- Comfrey
- Type: Root cuttings
- Time: Spring or fall
- How: Plant 2–3″ root sections horizontally in a bed
- Tip: Keep moist until shoots show
- Basil
- Type: Tip cuttings
- Time: Any time during growing season
- How: Place in water near a sunny window
- Note: Transplant when roots reach 1–2″
- Snake Plant
- Type: Leaf cuttings
- Time: Spring to summer
- How: Cut leaf into sections, let dry, then root in moist mix
- Rooting: 4–8 weeks
- Holly
- Type: Semi-hardwood
- Time: Fall
- How: Use 6″ cuttings, rooting hormone, and cover to retain humidity
- Rooting: 8–12 weeks
- African Violet
- Type: Leaf with stalk
- Time: Year-round indoors
- How: Angle cut and insert in peat-perlite mix
- Rooting: 3–5 weeks
- Geranium
- Type: Tip or stem
- Time: Late summer or early spring
- How: Let dry before planting, then root in peat-free mix
- Fuchsia
- Type: Softwood
- Time: Early spring
- How: Root 4–6″ cuttings with 2–3 leaf pairs in warm, humid conditions
- Sage
- Type: Semi-ripe basal
- Time: Late summer
- How: Use sandy soil in a cool location
- California Tree Poppy
- Type: Root cuttings
- Time: December
- How: Lay cuttings flat in trays; transplant after shoots form
- Horseradish
- Type: Root cuttings
- Time: Spring
- How: Plant 4–6″ sections vertically
- Weigela
- Type: Softwood, semi-ripe, or hardwood
- Time: Spring to fall
- How: Root in perlite and compost, depending on cutting type
- Hydrangea
- Type: Tip cuttings
- Time: Summer
- How: Root in peat-perlite mix under plastic
- Rooting: 3–4 weeks
- Aluminum Plant
- Type: Tip
- Time: Spring and summer
- How: Keep in humid environment with indirect light
- Dumb Cane
- Type: Tip or stem
- Time: Spring
- How: Allow to callus before rooting upright or horizontally
- Chinese Evergreen
- Type: Tip or stem
- Time: Late spring to summer
- How: Use sand and peat; cover with clear plastic
- Rooting: 4–6 weeks
- Philodendron
- Type: Tip with 2–3 nodes
- Time: Spring or summer
- How: Root in water or moist mix with node submerged
Final Thoughts
Once you get the hang of it, growing plants from cuttings becomes second nature. With the right methods, medium, and care, you can multiply your favorite herbs, flowers, and houseplants in no time.
Whether you’re filling out your garden, gifting plants to friends, or just enjoying the magic of plant propagation, these 20 easy options will help you grow with confidence—no seeds required.
