It’s relatively easy – and economical – to multiply your perennials to transplant them elsewhere in your garden or swap with friends. There are four different methods you can try – three of which (the first three in the following list) will reproduce exact copies of your original host plant:
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potting table is a convenient place to propagate perennials. Grow new plants from your favorites that have become crowded and require division, take cuttings or plant seeds you’ve collected from spent flowers.
Photo Credit: ©2001 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard
Division
A foolproof method for creating multiple plants quickly, division involves digging up the host plant, carefully separating the most vigorous new buds or root divisions, and replanting them in amended soil. It works with plants that grow in clumping habits such as daylilies, grasses, coralbells, phlox and delphiniums. Some fast-growing plants including Shasta daisies require division every few years to keep blooming and grow vigorously. Divide plants that grow in thickets, such as phlox; those that make fans of foliage including bearded iris; and those that produce low tufts of leaves including coralbells and thrift. Each spring, divide plants that bloom in late summer or autumn to ensure a long growing season; divide other plants after they bloom. Gather a shovel, two hand or spading forks, and a sharp knife. Water plants 24-48 hours before performing division, work on a cool, overcast day to keep roots moist.
Cuttings
You can propagate most plants that have leaf-filled stems or branches by taking cuttings. Cutting involves pruning a vigorous stem, dipping it in rooting hormone and placing it in moistened rooting medium to sprout roots. It works for many perennials including chrysanthemum, delphinium, pinks and sage. While this method is often less successful than division and takes longer to produce plants, it avoids digging or disturbing the host plant.
Layering
This method involves burying a healthy stem so that it produces roots, then pruning the rooted stem, which becomes the new plant. Although layering is more commonly used for shrubs, flowering perennials that have flexible branches with leaves on them can be propagated this way. While it can take longer than division or cuttings, layering avoids disturbing the host plant. Sow seed and layer existing plants to reproduce new planting stock for your garden. Grow plants from seed in spring a few weeks before the last frost is expected, always closely following the time of planting and depth recommendations on the seed package. When layering, choose stems that have leaves; latent growth buds are found where the leaves meet the stem. Sow seed or layer when the plant is growing vigorously.
Seeds
Some perennials resist vegetative propagation (examples are balloon flower, bleeding-heart, false indigo, monkshood and peony). To reproduce these plants, just collect and sow their seeds.
