Propagation is a great way to stretch your current crop of plants and give them a new lease of life for 2026. Not only is it cost-effective, as you don’t need to buy new seeds or young plants from a nursery, but it ensures that any specific cultivars in the garden will get to live on.
Propagation is also a fun experiment that can feel a little like magic. Watching a cutting take root and grow into its own self-sufficient plant is quite special.
It’s also a practical way to preserve some of the garden through the winter. Not all plants are designed to survive through months of low temperatures, which means that they will inevitably die off if there is no intervention. This is a natural part of the garden’s lifecycle, but it is still sad to see your carefully tended plants fade. By taking cuttings now and letting them propagate indoors, you enable the plant to survive through to next year — albeit in a slightly newer, younger form.
The benefit of propagating your plants
September sees both late summer and the arrival of fall, which can be an ideal time to take cuttings of certain species. After months of growing and flowering, many plants are starting to harden and will have woody bases, but softer tips. This can be helpful for propagation, since the hard bases will be less likely to rot. Hormone levels are often naturally high during the early fall, which also promotes new growth and makes it more likely that your cutting will root down healthily.
3 tips when propogating
- Use sharp shears to minimize any damage and stress to the plant.
- Clean the blades after each cut, to prevent the spread of disease between species.
- Have some root hormone on hand, to apply to the cutting’s base before planting.
7 plants to propagate this September
1. Hebe
Hebe is an evergreen shrub that bursts into bloom each summer, with long spikes of flowers that resemble bottlebrush. They come in several shades of purple, blue, and pink, and feature narrow leaves that offset the blooms nicely. Despite being an evergreen, these variegated varieties are less hardy than some of their counterparts and therefore it is wise to take cuttings from the more tender plants. Hebe also has an expected lifespan of under 10 years, meaning that you can greatly extend your enjoyment of the plant by taking cuttings and allowing them to mature into their own standalone bush.
How to propagate hebe
Take cuttings from just below the base of a node and aim for about 4-6 inches in length. Soil should be kept moist and cuttings should be kept out of direct sunlight until they have properly rooted down.
2. Butterfly bush
The flowering spires of the butterfly bush are more dramatic and eye-catching than hebe, commonly attracting pollinators to the garden. Since they are fast-growing, they are often used to introduce color quickly to the garden and this speed is particularly useful when it comes to propagating. And if you start now, the bush should be established in about 3-6 weeks. You’ll still want to overwinter the butterfly bush indoors before planting outside in the spring, but it means you can take cuttings throughout September and be confident that they’ll root and mature in time.
How to propagate butterfly bush
Take 4-6 inch cuttings from stems without any flowers. You want to target newer growth and then remove all the leaves save for 2-3 near the end. Place this bare end of the branch into compost and keep it moist and warm while the cutting begins to root.
3. Hydrangea
With its big, blousy blooms, hydrangea is one of the most popular summertime flowers around. You can find varieties that come in various sizes, colors, and styles, but once you’ve found your favorite then you’ll probably want to stick with it — and go even bigger next year!
It is often recommended to propagate hydrangea rather than grow it from seed
It is often recommended to propagate hydrangea rather than grow it from seed, so this is actually your best bet to growing your garden’s collection. Hydrangea cuttings do best when taken from semi-ripe stems in late summer and early autumn, so you can still get yours complete in September.
How to propagate hydrangea
Look for newer, light green stems with no flowers. Take a cutting of at least 4 inches and plant into a pot filled with gritty compost, rather than soil. You can apply some rooting hormone and cover it with a plastic bag to promote humidity, if you’d like.
4. Salvia
Another plant with statement spires of flowers, salvia is popular for its ability to attract pollinators, keep away mildew, and flower for months on end. Unfortunately, it can be tricky to find some of the less common varieties — and this is where propagating can come in extra handy. If you have a less common varietal in your garden, propagating will allow you to expand its footprint without you needing to hunt down extra seeds. Some salvia plants are also not fully hardy, so taking cuttings helps to protect the plant in some form through the winter. Since they suit a wide range of gardening schemes, a successful cutting will also make for a great gift!
How to propagate salvia
Find tender side-shoots that are a few inches long and without flowers. Cut just below the leaf node and remove all foliage save for two leaves at the top. Dip in rooting hormone, then place the cutting in well-draining compost. Keep in a sunny spot but out of full sun and mist periodically; after three weeks it should be ready to transplant.
5. Lemon verbena
Lemon verbena is a herd beloved for its citrussy scent and culinary attributes, making it a favorite of gardeners whether they’re growing in herb gardens or on balconies. Since it is only hardy in US zones 8-11, lemon verbena needs a bit of extra care if you want it to survive through the winter, which is why taking cuttings can be especially useful. Cuttings that are taken in September can be propagated and then grown indoors over the winter, ready for transplanting in the spring.
How to propagate lemon verbena
Look for semi-ripe stems that look healthy and cut a few inches of length from the end. Remove all lower leaves, dip in rooting hormone and then place in well-draining soil. Place a plastic bag over the cutting to help improve humidity levels.
6. Kingfisher daisy
While daisies are some of the most well-known flowers around, the kingfisher daisy — also known as felicia — is a less famous, but equally cheerful variety. Instead of white petals, kingfisher daisies have saturated blue blooms that contrast joyously with the vibrant yellow center. Its variegated form is quite rare and hard to find, so extend your supply by propagating existing plants.
How to propagate kingfisher daisy
Take a cutting of a non-flowering stem that is 3-4 inches in length. As always, make your cut just below a leaf node and then remove all lower leaves to create a bare stem. Place in well-draining soil and keep in indirect light for best growth.
7. Camellia
Unlike most of the plants on this list, camellia is actually a superstar during the winter months. Yes it offers pretty blooms during the summer, but it’s when the temperatures drop and other plants fall dormant that camellia comes into its own. Glossy leaves are offset by large, bright flowers that offer rare color amid the winter landscape — so why not expand your collection by propagating camellia? The woodier stems may require a little more coaxing than other species and rooting can take 2-4 months to fully establish, but the rewards will be more than worth it.
How to propagate camellia
Look for new growth that has matured from green to brown and is bendy but not floppy. Take a section that is 4-6 inches in length and cut at an angle, before scraping away some of the tougher bark at the base to expose the soft stem. Remove extra leaves and place several cuttings in a large pot.
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