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Hey garden friend ! Today , we ’re fit to talk about 12 of my favorite perennials to take cutting from in May .
A Quick Note About Zones
Before we begin , I desire to clarify something crucial . I ’m in USDA hardiness zone 8b , but my growing time of year is forgetful . Other parts of the country that are also 8b might have very dissimilar status — strong natural spring , tenacious season , and more predictability . For illustration , 8b in Texas is very different from 8b here .
So , when I take cutting off in May , your timing might be different look on when your flora come out of quiescence . Always go by your own growing season — not just the calendar .
Don’t Grow by Zones
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Prepping Your Potting Mix
To spread , I use a potting mix made from my homemade compost . I sift it to remove declamatory chunksand lighten up it up with either perlite or horticultural grit . ( you may use a calibre potting land mixed with the George Sand or perlite )
Sometimes , I even root cuttings straightaway in backbone — especially roses . It ’s sterile and drains well .
utilise 4 - inch reprocess baby’s room deal or smaller ones , calculate on what you have on deal . I moisten the commixture thoroughly before planting the cuttings , using a pencil or chopstick to make planting holes . ( I apportion how to do this in the video linked near the end of this post )

Tips for Success
Rooting Hormone – Yay or Nay?
Though using steady down hormone is optional and you’re able to circularise without it , there is a very estimable reason why I unremarkably do expend it . I will explain why .
Using rooting endocrine when circularise plants from cuttings can significantly increase your winner charge per unit . This endocrine helps perk up root growth by encouraging the plant cells at the cut site to develop root more rapidly and robustly .
It also gives cutting a headland start in overcoming transplant shock and environmental strain , dilute the chances of unsuccessful person due to rot or dehydration . Whether you ’re working with sonant , green stems or slightly woody slip , rooting hormone can advance your odds of growing healthy , vigorous Modern plant — specially when dealing with more stubborn mintage .

note : this was taken from the transcript of the TV I did for my YouTube channel , the step - by - step for each plant is in the telecasting .
The Plants Featured
1. Golden Sage
Tip cuttings work better . Place them along the edge of the batch . The roots tend to form best there , and the plant life benefits from a little lovingness and flow of air .
In the video , I explicate the theory of why it is beneficial to come in the cuttings around the lip of the potbelly or else of the center field .
2. Clematis
These rootinter - nodally , meaning theme form between leafage nodes rather than directly at the node . Cut just above a leafage node and slice up the base of the radical gently before dip it in rooting hormone .
3. Snapdragons
specially great for taking tip cuttings . Snapdragons take root easily and facilitate you multiply your favorite colors . I depart them from seed and then take cuttings from the industrial plant .
4. Golden Elderberry or Black Lace Elderberry
Very pliable in spring . Take cutting from the soft , pliable stems ( I have also pick out cuttings and successfully rooted in more mature stems ) .
Just make certain to get a couple of nodes below the soil rail line . I do n’t always apply rooting hormone here , but it does n’t hurt to add it .
5. Phlox (Garden, not Creeping)
Trim to a leaf leaf node , dismantle the leaves , and establish it the same direction . The more cuttings you take , the better the hazard of success .
6. Dahlia
Not traditionally thought of as perennial unless winter , but you may easy propagate from fore cuttings . Take a cutting just above a foliage leaf node and remove extra farewell to derogate wet loss .
Want to take basal cuttings ? I have you comprehend right here .
7. Veronica
Typically , you want to take cuttings from stems that do not have flowers or bud on them , but that is n’t always potential . When the stem turn have flower bud forming already , remove them to help oneself focus the plant ’s energy on source constitution . flora with at least one leaf node below the dirt product line but two are just .
8. Nepeta (Catmint)
Even if it ’s start to bud , you could take good for you , non - flowering stems from lower down . It ’s a great plant to bulk up with cuttings .
I often dig up and divide my Nepeta in the Fall to create more plants , as well as take cutting in the Spring .
9. Shasta Daisy
Select non - vacuous stems for best winner . If the cutting is tall , you may need a big humidity dome or a Ziploc old bag setup .
I choose ascendant separate daisy as well and will do that in early Spring or late Summer and spread around . But they also grow very fast and easy from seed .
Grow Daisies
10. Penstemon
void the woody parts and cut flexible green development . This dark - flower native roots well from bakshish cutting off .
11. Golden Feverfew
respect for its chartreuse foliage . depend for non - hollow stems , prune side leave , and use rooting hormone for a better strike pace .
12. Mystic Spires Salvia
One of my favorite ! This works roots well from gratuity cuttings , especially when the soil has warm up in former give .
Humidity Domes & Aftercare
You do n’t take fancy equipment . I ’ve used recycle plastic vat , Ziploc bags with chopsticks , or traditional germ - starting covered stadium with vent . The goal is to keep humidity in until the cuttings make roots , since they ca n’t take up water through roots yet .
When I can keep them in the greenhouse , before the summer heats up , I do n’t use a humidity domed stadium . This is so much moisture in the air with all the plant and tray with water that the plant get enough without a cover .
Wrapping Up
Once your cuttings are rooted , you ’ll have flock of young plants to spread around your garden — or share with friends ! I trust this inspires you to prove propagating perennial in your own space this saltation . Let me know what you ’re diffuse and how it goes !
Watch the video for a clear visual step by step!
Happy horticulture !