What’s your favourite method of propagating?

[Mattb]

I’m keen to know what people’s favourite methods of propagating perennials are, and the species you’re referring to? I’m more interested in methods you’ve discovered that are unusual, or just give you a buzz? As an example, for me: leaf cuttings of Eucomis, or, basically anything that can be grown from root cutting, like Eryngium (root cuttings! How is nature so amazing!)

I thought it might be cool having a thread listing the lesser known plant propagation techniques...

[Maggi Young]

Welcome Matt!  Brilliant idea to highlight  "other" propagation  techniques. ( Though not the best time  of year to remind me that I meant to take  Eucomis leaf cuttings last year and didn't! )

I agree, root cuttings are  more than a little  "magical! I'm not sure  just  which plants will do well from root cuttings - how many can members suggest?

[bibliofloris]

Papaver orientalis does well from root cuttings (in late winter, if I remember correctly?) And I’d bet Anemone hupehensis does too, since one grew up again after I’d transplanted one elsewhere.

I like hardwood cuttings over the winter, and layering. Both have a fairly high success rate if I time them right, and don’t need any special equipment. I do use a wonderfully helpful booklet called “Cuttings Throughout the Year” from the Washington Arboretum to judge what type of cutting is best for many, many different plants at what time (at least in my area). Looks like you can order it through them, though I don’t know if they ship internationally: https://www.arboretumfoundation.org/shop/arboretum-shop/

Oh, and bulbils from leaf axils! They always feel like magic.

[Gerdk]

I agree, root cuttings are  more than a little  "magical! I'm not sure  just  which plants will do well from root cuttings - how many can members suggest?

A long time ago I received root cuttings of rare Japanese Viola hybrids from the late Dr. Miki.
The method works well and I raised some healthy plants.

Gerd

[Mattb]

Thanks For the welcome, Maggi. And thanks for sorting out my noob technical problems!

It’s perfect Eucomis cutting time here in Aus, hence why it’s on my mind. In fact, I discovered the method by stumbling upon Meanie’s successes (http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=11469.0).

I hadn’t looked into Papavers, but have had success with Romneya coulteri, so that makes sense. Although it’s one thing to get them to root and another thing entirely not snapping the fragile roots while transplanting.

I agree, biblioflorus. Bulbils are a little ridiculous, it’s like the Liliums are literally throwing new plants at me. Thanks for the tip re cuttings throughout the year.

[Diane Whitehead]

Dicentra spectabilis.  I haven't taken root cuttings deliberately, but if I transplant one, it
continues growing from the roots that were inadvertently left behind.

[Mattb]

Dicentra spectabilis.  I haven't taken root cuttings deliberately, but if I transplant one, it
continues growing from the roots that were inadvertently left behind.

No way! Dicentra/Lamprocapnos... it had never occurred to me to try. Papaveraceae is definitely winning the race here...

[Gail]

Some peonies will grow from root cuttings, notably for me Paeonia peregrina and the cultivar 'Coral Charm'

[brianw]

My photos from several years back of Eucomis leaf cuttings are on the PBS website
https://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/Eucomis

Root cuttings are as much a serious pain as useful. Depends what plant it is. I have plants appearing every year I think I have pulled up, or sprayed to kill. Nearly all those thistles that appeared after last years drought in my lawn are back after I sprayed last summer. I also have a number of Silibum thistles elsewhere I thought I had removed. Fantastic leaves, to look at, not touch, but difficult to dig out of heavy stony soils without protective clothes. Japanese Knotweed is another root cutting candidate.

[Rick R.]

Gymnocladus dioicus ( Kentucky Coffee Tree) and Xanthoceras sorbifolia (Yellowhorn) can be propagated via root cuttings.

[Mattb]

Some peonies will grow from root cuttings, notably for me Paeonia peregrina and the cultivar 'Coral Charm'

I didn’t realise any peonies grew from root cuttings. I wonder if all the lactiflora cvs grow from root cuttings? And what other species might...?

[François Lambert]

I don't really grow alpines, but I do grow lost of bulbs - amongst other Eucomis.

Whenever possible I try to propagate by seed.  It's fun, it allows to grow huge quantities of new plants with little effort when germination is high.  Personally I also prefer plants raised from seed because then you have a new plant with a new date of birth, where if you propagate vegetatively you end up with an old plant - seems most plants remember in some way when they germinated and a fresh cutting or grafting may not live for long because it originates from an old plant.
The downside is that cultivars & crosses will not come true from seed or some crosses may even be infertile.  The positive side is that you may very well get something new from seed - worth to become a named cultivar.
Although this has nothing to do with rock gardening, I have delicious peaches growing from seed raised trees (seeds of the peach trees in the garden (varieties that can be grown here and that are resitant to the curl disease)), and I have a very interesting pear tree that I found as wild seedling in the garden, which gives late October large delicious pears - much better than the old varieties of mate pears I purchased and who lack completely growing power probably due to their age - these grow as old trees, just a few cm per year.

[Gail]

I didn’t realise any peonies grew from root cuttings. I wonder if all the lactiflora cvs grow from root cuttings? And what other species might...?

Not sure that many/any straight lactiflora cultivars will grow from cuttings. 'Coral Charm' has P. peregrina in its ancestry (Wissing, U.S.A., 1964; P. lactiflora x P. peregrina 'Otto Fröbel') which is presumably where that tendency to form adventitious buds on pieces of root has come from. I've not tried with any others but there are reports of P. tenuifolia 'Plena' doing so;
http://www.peonies.org/P_tenuifolia.html

[Leena]

Not sure that many/any straight lactiflora cultivars will grow from cuttings. 'Coral Charm' has P. peregrina in its ancestry (Wissing, U.S.A., 1964; P. lactiflora x P. peregrina 'Otto Fröbel') which is presumably where that tendency to form adventitious buds on pieces of root has come from.

I agree with Gail, not straigth lactifloras grow from root cuttings. The roots need to have adventitious buds in them, and the ones with either P.peregrina or P.tenuifolia -ancestry do it.  Also many peonies with P.officinalis -ancestry grow from root cuttings. For me such have been P.officinalis ssp humilis and humilis 'Flore Pleno' (in fact it starts to grow from even a tiny piece of root left in the ground after moving it), P.officinalis ssp officinalis (though I'm not sure if mine is true, but it does produce adventitious buds in roots), and P.mollis. Also P.x festiva 'Rubra Plena' and 'Rosea Plena' start to grow from root pieces, but for me not quadruple hybrids. 'Coral Sunset' grows from adventitous buds as well as 'Coral Charm'

[Véronique Macrelle]

my favorite propagation is sowing, to obtain several plants that adapt to my garden and my climate.

  here is my example of vegetative propagation which I find interesting and which could be studied to provoke it. I can not do it again, it was accidental the first time:
 seedlings growing on the flowering stalk after flowering of Kniphofia caulesens.

I know that you can also cut the flower stalk of Eucomis.
I managed to propagate by cutting base flower deer of Hemerocalles citrina (pulling on it, a slightly thickened basis with 2 bract / leaves: it is rooted pretty well.