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19 Easy Plants You Can Grow from Cuttings

Growing new plants from cuttings feels almost magical. A stem of new growth placed in water or soil sprouts roots of its own and grows into a whole new plant. The process requires little effort and is so rewarding! I especially enjoy rooting cuttings of scented geraniums for my porch and pothos to trail down bookshelves. But you can also propagate shrubs, trees, and herbaceous garden plants from cuttings. However, some plants root more easily from cuttings than others, so it’s helpful to know which plants you can grow from cuttings and which ones need more coaxing or might not root at all.

plant rooting in water

Types Of Cuttings

Before you take a cutting, you need to know what type of cutting to take, which will vary depending on the plant. There are four main types of stem cuttings: herbaceous, softwood, semi-hardwood, and hardwood.

Herbaceous cuttings are taken from — you guessed it — herbaceous perennials and annuals. The other three come from woody shrubs and trees and refer to the age of the stem.

Softwood cuttings come from tender young growth under two months old. Semi-hardwood cuttings come from two- to six-month-old growth, which is more mature but still holds leaves. Hardwood cuttings come from dormant plants and are taken in late fall or winter.

Tips For Rooting Cuttings

Cuttings should always come from this season’s or the previous season’s growth, depending on the type (see above). Select healthy stems from the upper part of the plant, without flowers or buds, if possible. If not, remove all flowers and buds so the plant’s energy goes into roots and new growth.

With many plants, like pothos, a long cutting can be divided into multiple shorter cuttings. However, a terminal cutting often works best. Most cuttings should be four to six inches long.

Remove all leaves from the lower third to half of each cutting. I usually aim to have at least two to three leaves remaining at the top. For plants that tend to be a bit more difficult to propagate from cuttings, dip the bottom end in rooting hormone, tapping to remove excess powder.

Then, insert the bottom third to half of the cutting into a small container of moistened growing medium. For the medium, a mixture of equal parts perlite and peat or sand and peat works well, though I have used both seed starting mix and potting soil successfully. Many herbaceous plants will even root in water, which is fun to see!

Place your cuttings on a windowsill with bright, indirect light and keep the medium moist. To ensure high humidity, you can place a plastic bag or a jug or bottle with the bottom cut out over the plants. The plant has rooted when new growth forms or it stays in place when you gently tug on it.

Plants You Can Grow from Cuttings

Each of the plants below, categorized as houseplants (indoor), garden plants (outdoor), or trees, include the type of cutting (herbaceous, softwood, semi-hardwood, hardwood) and recommended rooting medium (water or “soil”/growing medium). See the above sections for more details.

Houseplants

1. Arrowhead vine (Syngonium podophyllum)

Thorsen's Greenhouse Live White Butterfly Plant, Arrowhead Plant, Syngonium Podophyllum, Live Indoor Plant, 4" Diameter Pot

This trailing or climbing houseplant has arrow-shaped leaves when young and matures to have deeply lobed foliage. Leaf color ranges from lime green and bright pink to dark green and white.

Type of cutting: herbaceous

Rooting medium: water

2. Begonia (Begonia spp.)

3 Giant Blooming Mixed Begonia Flower Bulbs - Easy to Grow, Colorful Variety Mix of Pink, Yellow, White, Red and Orange Blooms - Touch of ECO

With their striking foliage and otherworldly appearance, begonias are among my favorite houseplants. Some cultivars produce lovely flowers too!

Type of cutting: herbaceous

Rooting medium: water or soil

3. Corn plant (Dracaena fragrans)

Dracaena Fragrans - Live Houseplant - Corn Plant - Indoor Florist Quality Foliage Tree

The narrow, often striped, leaves of corn plants resemble the foliage of corn or palms, and these popular houseplants are wonderfully easy to grow even in low light.

Type of cutting: herbaceous

Rooting medium: water

4. Monstera (Monstera spp.)

Costa Farms Monstera Deliciosa Live Indoor Plant 24-Inches Tall, Fresh From Our Farm, Excellent Gift or Home Décor

The tropical plants in this genus typically have large, heart-shaped leaves, often with deep lobes or even holes (such as the aptly named Swiss cheese plant).

Type of cutting: herbaceous

Rooting medium: water or soil

5. Philodendron (Philodendron spp.)

Heart Leaf Philodendron cordatum - 2 Plants - World's Easiest Houseplant-3" Pots

This large genus contains a multitude of climbing, creeping, and trailing tropical plants, from the vining heart-leaf philodendron to the more compact philodendron erubescens with its huge leaves.

Type of cutting: herbaceous

Rooting medium: water

6. Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima)

zcbang Rare Plant 100 Pcs Seeds Poinsettia Euphorbia Pulcherrima Potted Plants

A popular Christmas decoration, poinsettias can actually be grown as houseplants year round.

Type of cutting: herbaceous

Rooting medium: soil

7. Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)

Perfect Plants Golden Pothos | Epipremnum aureum Devil's Ivy | Easy Care Houseplant | Perfect for Low to Moderate Light Conditions, 6 in Grower's Pot, | Air Purifying

This vining houseplant is one of the easiest to grow and one of my favorites to propagate by cuttings.

Type of cutting: herbaceous

Rooting medium: water

8. String of pearls (Curio rowleyanus)

String of Pearls, Beads, peas Senecio rowleyanus Curio Rosary Plant in 2 inch Pot

A unique vining succulent, string of pearls has spherical leaves that resemble peas or, well, pearls!

Type of cutting: herbaceous

Rooting medium: soil

9. Swedish ivy (Plectranthus australis)

Swedish Ivy Begonia Beautiful Green Foliage Houseplant (Plectranthus Australis)

This lovely vining houseplant has round, scalloped leaves often with variegation. It also produces white or lavender flowers!

Type of cutting: herbaceous

Rooting medium: soil

Garden plants

10. Azalea (Rhododendron spp.)

PJM Rhododendron - 1 Gallon

These lovely shrubs bloom in the spring with showy flower clusters in shades of white, pink, or red.

Type of cutting: semi-hardwood

Rooting medium: soil

11. Blueberry (Vaccinium spp.)

Lowbush Blueberry plant,Vaccinium angustifolium, fruit is high in antioxidants !(1 plant)

Blueberries are a wonderful fruit to grow in the home garden, and you can multiply your bushes through stem cuttings!

Type of cutting: softwood or hardwood

Rooting medium: soil

12. Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)

Proven Winners - Cephalanthus occidentalis Sugar Shack (Buttonbush) Shrub, white flowers, #3 - Size Container

Native to the US, buttonbush produces unique spherical flowers that look something like buttons decorating the shrub.

Type of cutting: hardwood

Rooting medium: soil

13. Camellia (Camellia spp.)

Nuccios Pearl Camellia Japonica - Live Plant - Quart Pot

This flowering shrub blooms in vibrant shades of pink, red, lavender, yellow, and white.

Type of cutting: semi-hardwood

Rooting medium: soil

14. Clematis (Clematis spp.)

Nelly Moser Clematis - 1 Gallon

A popular flowering vine, clematis species vary widely in bloom time, flower form, and color.

Type of cutting: softwood or semi-hardwood

Rooting medium: soil

15. Coleus (Plectranthus scutellarioides, Zones 10–11)

400+ Coleus Seeds- Rainbow Mix- 90% Germ.

The vibrant foliage of coleus provides a pop of color in shade gardens and patio containers.

Type of cutting: herbaceous

Rooting medium: water

16. Forsythia (Forsythia spp.)

Lynwood Gold Forsythia Bush - Yellow Flowering Shrub - Live Plant Shipped 1 to 2 Feet Tall by DAS Farms (No California)

Forsythia shrubs produce masses of cheery yellow flowers in late winter, long before most other plants begin blooming.

Type of cutting: softwood, semi-hardwood, or hardwood

Rooting medium: soil

17. Garden mums (Chrysanthemum spp.)

zcbang Rare Aster Seed 200+ Chrysanthemum Variety of Colors (Dachess Cluster Blooms) Flower Seeds

Especially popular during the fall, garden mums produce ruffled blossoms in a variety of lovely colors.

Type of cutting: herbaceous

Rooting medium: soil

18. Geranium (Pelargonium spp.)

Outsidepride Geranium Flower Seed Plant Mix - 100 Seeds

From scented geraniums to hardy geraniums, this genus contains a wide range of species for the garden, patio, and home.

Type of cutting: herbaceous

Rooting medium: soil

18. Grape (Vitis spp.)

PERFECT PLANTS Concord Grape Vine in 1 Gallon Grower's | Delicious Fruits for Home Trellis | Can Be Used for Jellies, Wines, and More

Save healthy cuttings when pruning your grapevines to propagate new plants for even more juicy grapes.

Type of cutting: hardwood

Rooting medium: soil

19. Hydrangea (Hydrangea spp.)

Endless Summer Summer Crush Hydrangea, 2 Gal, Raspberry Red and Neon Purple Blooms

This popular flowering shrub produces lacey caps or showy globes of white, pink, blue, or even lavender blossoms.

Type of cutting: softwood or hardwood

Rooting medium: soil

11. Lavender (Lavendula spp.)

L+ Lavender French Provence Very Fragrant ( Blue Flowers, 4" Size Pot, 4 Live Plants)

A fragrant herb with lovely purple flowers and both medicinal and culinary qualities, lavender is one plant you can never have too much of.

Type of cutting: softwood or hardwood

Rooting medium: soil

12. Rose (Rosa spp.)

Ma Cherie Roses - Abracadabra Rose - 1 Gallon Rose - Live Plant Ready to Plant

This classic flower has inspired gardeners and poets for centuries with its ruffled petals, sweet scent, and thorny stems.

Type of cutting: softwood or hardwood

Rooting medium: soil

13. Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus)

AMERICAN PLANT EXCHANGE Upright Rosemary Indoor/Outdoor Air Purifier Live Plant, 6" Pot, Fragrant Cooking Spice

Rosemary is a unique evergreen herb with fragrant, needle-like leaves in a soft, gray-green shade.

Type of cutting: herbaceous

Rooting medium: soil

14. Sweet potato (Ipomoea spp.)

AMERICAN PLANT EXCHANGE Sweet Potato Vine Live Plant, 6" Pot, Desana Lime

Grow a large crop of this delicious tuber by turning cuttings into new plants.

Type of cutting: herbaceous

Rooting medium: water

Trees

15. Catalpa (Catalpa bignonioides or speciosa)

1 Catalpa Tree

Native to the US, catalpa trees have large, heart-shaped leaves and long, beanlike seed pods.

Type of cutting: softwood

Rooting medium: soil

16. Crape myrtle (Lagerstroe­mia spp.)

4 Pack Muskogee (Lavender) Crape Myrtle Trees - 4 Live Plants - Quart Containers

This ornamental tree features beautiful peeling bark and large, showy clusters of white, pink, red, or purple flowers.

Type of cutting: softwood or semi-hardwood

Rooting medium: soil

17. Fig (Ficus spp.)

Fig Plant 'Chicago Hardy' (1-Pack) - Professionally Rooted Fig Starter Tree in 2.5-inch Grower's Pot | Ships from Easy to Grow

Fig trees produce delicious fruits for fresh eating, drying, making jam, and more.

Type of cutting: hardwood

Rooting medium: soil

18. Mulberry (Morus rubra)

Red Mulberry Tree (Morus Rubra) 1-2 Feet Tall

While most mulberry trees are invasive, the red mulberry is native to the US and produces large, juicy berries.

Type of cutting: softwood

Rooting medium: soil

19. Willow (Salix spp.)

2 Basket Willow Bush Cuttings -Salix purpurea - Prized for Branches to Make Willow Baskets - A Short Thick Shrub Makes it Great for Privacy Screen - Streamco Willow Bush

Although the weeping willow is perhaps the most classic, many lovely willow tree and shrub species exist.

Type of cutting: hardwood

Rooting medium: soil

This long list of plants you can grow from cuttings just scrapes the tip of the iceberg! Once you discover the fun of propagating cuttings, you might not be able to stop. Happy growing!

19 easy plants you can grow from cuttings

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