13 Plants You Can Grow From Cuttings in Summer

As we move headlong into summer, there’s time to take cuttings of our favorite perennials and warm-season annuals, as well as some woody shrubs. Shrubby perennials are good contenders, with growth that rejuvenates quickly in warm conditions.

From cuttings, they’ll develop roots and shoots quickly for potting up in the fall. Often, we give these perennials a good trim post-bloom this time of year, and these or cuttings from the new flush of growth are top selections.

For stem cuttings, aim to take those that haven’t yet set buds or flowered. If they are in flower, remove blooms prior to processing to direct energy to forming new roots.

It’s best to clip stems in the morning when they’re turgid and holding water before the day’s heat. Use clean, sharp pruners, snips, or a knife to make precise cuts on stems.

As they grow, new plants will be tender. Plan to protect them from cold winter temperatures, and harden them off outside in a protected area for a week or two before installing them in their new garden location.

How To Take Cuttings

• Cut a four to six-inch piece of healthy stem just below a leaf node. The best options are non-flowering, non-woody stems.
• Remove leaves from the bottom half of the cutting, keeping the upper sets intact. Cut large leaves in half to limit transpiration.
• Keep cuttings moist until ready to pot.
• Optionally, moisten the cutting and dip the base of the stem in the rooting hormone. Tap off any excess powder.
• Stick the cutting with a leaf node one to two inches deep into a tray or cell with sterile potting medium, moist and well-draining. Vermiculite, perlite, and sand make suitable mixtures.
• Place the cuttings in a bright, warm location away from direct sunlight. To increase humidity, use a clear plastic cover or bag, making sure it doesn’t touch the cuttings. If using a cover, ensure temperatures don’t exceed 75°F (24°C) for best success.
• Water or mist to keep the soil evenly moist, usually daily. 
• When roots have taken hold and new growth emerges, transplant stems to a larger pot or into the garden. An indicator of roots is when the cutting resists a gentle tug.

Chrysanthemum

	botanical name Chrysanthemum spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2-4’
	hardiness zones 3-9

Hardy garden mums grow all summer to shine in the fall when their blanket of blooms in rich gold, scarlet, plum, pink, and copper is on full display. The late bloomers come alive as others fade and provide a late food source for pollinators and other beneficial insects.

Cuttings are the primary method for propagating these easy-to-grow perennials in the summer, resulting in an abundance of new plants. Mother plants also benefit from division every few years, which becomes a simple way to create a larger crop.

Take cuttings from pliable stems in spring and early summer when shoots reach eight to ten inches tall. Cuttings taken in spring will flower in late summer, but those captured in summer will show full color next fall. The growing process from cuttings. Cuttings develop roots in three to four weeks for transplanting and one to two months to become sturdy mum seedlings.

Lavender

	botanical name Lavandula spp.
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 3’
	hardiness zones 5-8

Lavender and its invigorating fragrance, silvery foliage, purple bloom spikes, and many uses, from cleansing to relaxation to culinary, deserve a spot in every garden. Whether one of the many English, French, Spanish, or Dutch varieties, lavender makes a showy, fragrant focal point.

There are several ways to propagate lavender, including softwood and hardwood cuttings and growing from seed. Division is also possible, particularly through layered offshoots.

The herb benefits from seasonal pruning after flowering (and to harvest those beautiful, fragrant bloom spikes) for a new flush of growth. Take cuttings in spring or summer as new growth emerges post-trim.

Catmint

	botanical name Nepeta spp.
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 1-3’
	hardiness zones 3-8

Catmint is a workhorse herbaceous perennial. Aromatic foliage has pest-repellant and edible qualities, in addition to its soft, mounding form and silvery, gray-green color. Petite lavender-violet tubular blooms put on a show in early summer, with successional rounds during the season.

Catmint is low-maintenance, tolerates heat, and grows in lesser soils as long as they have good drainage. It withstands periods of drought, though average moisture shows the best flowering. Deadhead spent flower spikes or shear plants after flowering to encourage quicker reblooming.

Take catmint cuttings in late spring and early summer from non-woody, non-flowering growth. Ideal cuttings are green and flexible but also strong. Use them from shearing, or wait until new growth emerges to take select stems.

In addition to rooting Nepeta in potting media, stems also root in water. Roots develop in water after about two weeks or longer for a strong structure for transplanting.

Rosemary

	botanical name Salvia rosmarinus
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 3-6’
	hardiness zones 8-10

Rosemary brings form and fragrance with aromatic, evergreen, needle-like foliage. Blue blooms cover stems of evergreen needles in early summer, attracting pollinators to the garden. Clip stems before they bloom or after they finish flowering.

Choose pliable, nonwoody stems, cut a six-inch section, and strip the lower leaves. Place them in an inch or two of water or potting media. Roots should form in two to four weeks, though it may take longer for several to reach half an inch long or longer to be ready for potting up.

Keep cuttings moist but not overly saturated for the best health of the Mediterranean herb. Rosemary grows indoors year-round and perennializes in mild climates.

Hydrangea

	botanical name Hydrangea spp.
	sun requirements Partial shade
	height 2-8’
	hardiness zones 3-9

Hydrangeas put on a summer show with massive flowerheads in white, blue, and pink. Their mopheads, lacecaps, and panicle forms are stunning against their leafy backdrops. They make ideal specimen shrubs or hedges, and even grow in pots.

With so many cultivars available, there’s a hydrangea color and form for nearly every garden situation. The hardy shrubs grow across climate zones. If you have a favorite you want to propagate, softwood stem cuttings are the easiest method. Take cuttings from new growth, ideally from leafy stems without flowers. 

Clip the stems just above a leaf node, and reduce them to four to six-inch lengths, with at least a set of two leaves intact. Cut the large leaves in half so there’s less moisture drawn and less for the stem to support. Hydrangeas grow from summer cuttings in about four weeks (you may see roots in as little as two weeks or ready development in as many as six).

Geranium

	botanical name Pelargonium spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 1-2’
	hardiness zones 9-11

Geraniums are classic annuals or tender perennials that flourish in warm temperatures. The rich, color-saturated flowers and true green, padded leaves of the common garden geranium are traditional favorites, whether cherry red, coral, magenta, or white. Thick stems hold the showy bloom clusters above leafy branches. 

Scented-leaved geraniums feature dynamic foliage in unique fragrances like rose, citrus, mint, nutmeg, coconut, apricot, strawberry, apple, and more. They’re versatile in the garden and the kitchen, and in containers, indoors and out. 

Get a jump start on new geraniums by growing them from summer cuttings, either in soil or in water. Plan to overwinter them indoors before moving to the garden the following spring. It’s best to take geranium cuttings in late spring or early summer before plants flower fully, but it’s possible to take them anytime, even when flowering or later in the season. New, healthy, soft growth is best.

Penstemon

	botanical name Penstemon spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2-5’
	hardiness zones 3-8

Penstemon is an ornamental wildflower with tall spikes of tubular blooms in colors from violet to pale pink to red. Many species are native to the U.S., with numerous cultivars with striking flowers and dark green foliage. Native bees and hummingbirds visit each bell flower for the rich nectar, and the stems are also lovely in a vase. The low-maintenance perennial adapts to various soil and growing conditions.

To grow more from cuttings in the summer, take penstemon clippings up until early fall. Early summer, before flowering, works well, as does later in the season, post-bloom, around August to September. Aim for that pliable, fresh growth.

Penstemon also divides easily in spring as new growth develops after frost. And, as the primary plant ages, it will show less central growth, more woody stems, and fewer flowers. Dig, lift, and cut/tease the roots to create new transplants.

Chelone

	botanical name Chelone spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2-5’
	hardiness zones 3-8

Chelone’s little flowers resemble a turtle with an open mouth, hence its common name, turtlehead. Chelone is a nymph in Greek mythology, punished by the gods and turned into a turtle for missing Zeus’ wedding. The bell blooms in white, pink, and red are two-lipped like snapdragons and line stalks in late summer to early fall among dark green, shiny leaves.

Chelone is native to North America and occurs naturally in bogs, swamps, and moist woodlands, and likes even moisture. It puts on leafy, mounding growth and fresh stems all summer before flowering. Clip stems before they bloom to grow them easily from summer cuttings.

Salvia

	botanical name Salvia spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2-3’
	hardiness zones 4-10

Salvias bring full color with tubular blooms that are beacons for pollinators. Late-season native bloomers like pineapple sage (Salvia elegans) and ‘Black and Blue’ (Salvia guaranitica) produce fresh growth all summer before flowering. Pineapple sage has late summer to fall red flowers, and its foliage has a light pineapple flavor. ‘Black and Blue’ is a favorite with tall, deep blue flowers that begin in summer and last until frost.

Take cuttings from other Salvia species like greggii (autumn sage), farinacea (mealy cup), leucantha (Mexican bush), and coccinea (scarlet) anytime during the growing season to capture those pliable stems. Viable stems will show roots in a few weeks.

Salvia is a low-maintenance plant with selections that tolerate heat and grow in both sun and shade, depending on the variety. They flower best in evenly moist soils but adapt to drier conditions. 

Petunia

	botanical name Petunia spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 6”-2’
	hardiness zones 2-11

Petunias are among the top bedding annuals for their extended flowering and cascading, bloom-lined stems. Their long stems make them ideal for summer cuttings. Take them early in the season for an infill round of plantings, or closer to fall for overwintering young plants. It can take five to six weeks for a successful cutting to be ready for transplanting. 

Select fresh growth that hasn’t flowered yet, and clip a four to six-inch length. If the only options are flowering stems, remove any flowers and buds before sticking them. Take off all leaves from the lower portion of the cutting, leaving one or two sets intact on the upper end.

During the growing season, petunias benefit from pruning to rejuvenate growth and promote continual flowering. A regular trim session is prime time to collect cuttings. Cut the green stems just above a leaf node so the remaining stem will generate new growth. Cut the stem by about 20% or as much as 50% for pruning and shaping.

Fuchsia

	botanical name Fuchsia spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 1-3’
	hardiness zones 6-11

Fuchsia boasts ornamental blooms that suspend gracefully from gently arching stems. The showy bloomers are magnets for hummingbirds and other pollinators.

They produce the heaviest flush in spring, with repeat flowering throughout the warm season. Both hardy and tender, tropical types benefit from simple pruning and deadheading to maintain their form and flowering.

Pinch new shoots after two sets of leaves appear for fuller plants with more buds. Pinch or clip stems during the growing season, stopping before fall’s first frost. Clipping stems one-fourth to one-third reinvigorates growth and leaves plenty for summer cuttings. 

The tropicals regrow quickly, even with heavier trims. Avoid any significant cuts during the hottest time of summer, as they conserve energy in extreme heat rather than direct it to growth.

Begonia

	botanical name Begonia spp.
	sun requirements Partial to full shade
	height 12-18”
	hardiness zones 9-11

From angel wing to tuberous to rex, begonias bring their striking foliage to enrich the warm-season display. In the cool season, they grow indoors beautifully as houseplants. 

Begonias rose to popularity in the 1850s Victorian era for their conservatory-worthy foliage, flowers, and thick, arching stems. They have a long flowering period, and the patterned leaves in various shapes and colors are a highlight. Their water-filled stems and plump leaf nodes suit growing from cuttings.

Take cuttings any time of year, particularly in the warm season during active growth. Root them in soil or water and wait a few weeks for roots to develop before stepping them up into small pots.

Tomato

	botanical name Solanum lycopersicum
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 8”-25’
	hardiness zones 3-11

Tomatoes round out our list of plants to grow from summer cuttings as they root easily in soil and water, with nodes and hairs setting roots. They quickly make new plants and replicate the specific variety you’re growing (hybrid tomatoes don’t grow true to type from seed, but cuttings are clones).

Treat tomatoes as you would other soft-stemmed clippings, and the roots will begin to grow within a week. Let root clusters develop until they reach one to two inches long for transplanting. 

Any tomato will do for experimenting with cuttings, keeping in mind their frost-sensitivity. Use summer cuttings as a successional round if you have a long growing season. Or, grow them out in a warm spot over the winter for early production the following season.