Optimum Stage of Tissue (Wood) Maturity For Rooting Stem Cuttings of Selected Woody Ornamentals

Evergreen Plants
Common Name Scientific Name Type of Cuttinga
Abelia Abelia spp. SH, HW
Arborvitae, American Thuja occidentalis SH, HW
Arborvitae, Oriental Platycladus orientalis SW
Azalea (evergreen & semi evergreen) Rhododendron spp. SH
Barberry, mentor Berberis x mentorensis SH
Barberry, Japanense Berberis thunbergii SH, HW
Barberry, wintergreen Berberis julianae SH
Boxwood, littleleaf Buxus microphylla SH, HW
Boxwood, common Buxus sempervirens SH, HW
Camellia Camellia spp. SH
Ceanothus Ceanothus spp. SW, SH, HW
Cedar Cedrus spp. SH, HW
Chamaecyparis, False cypress Chamaecyparis spp. SH, HW
Cotoneaster Cotoneaster spp. SW, SH
Cryptomeria, Japanese Cryptomeria japonica SH
Daphne Daphne spp. SH
Eleagnus, thorny Elaeagnus pungens SH
English ivy Hedera helix SH
Euonymus Euonymus spp. SH
Fir Abies spp. SW, HW
Gardenia, Cape jasmine Gardenia jasminoides SW, SH
Heath Erica spp. SW, HW
Heather Calluna vulgaris SH, HW
Hemlock Tsuga spp. SW, SH, HW
Holly, Chinese Ilex cornuta SH, HW
Holly, Foster's Ilex x attenuata 'Fosteri' SH
Holly, American Ilex opaca SH
Holly, yaupon Ilex vomitoria SH
Holly, English Ilex aquifolium SH
Holly, Japanese Ilex crenata SH, HW
Jasmine Jasminum spp. SH
Juniper, creeping Juniperus horizontalis SH, HW
Juniper, Chinese Juniperus chinensis SH, HW
Juniper, Shore Juniperus conferta SH, HW
Leyland cypress x Cupressocyparis leylandii SH, HW
Magnolia Magnolia spp. SW, SH
Mahonia Mahonia spp. SH
Oleander Nerium oleander SH
Osmanthus, holly Osmanthus heterophyllus SH, HW
Photinia Photinia spp. SH, HW
Pine, Mugo Pinus mugo SH
Pine, Eastern white Pinus strobus HW
Pittosporum Pittosporum spp. SH
Podocarpus Podocarpus spp. SH
Privet Ligustrunm spp. SW, SH, HW
Pyracantha, firethorn Pyracantha spp. SH
Rhododendron Rhododendron spp. SH, HW
Spruce Picea spp. SW, HW
Viburnum Viburnum spp. SW, HW
Yew Taxus spp. SH, HW

aSW = softwood, SH = semi-hardwood, HW = hardwood.


Deciduous Plants

Common NameScientific NameType of Cutting
Azalea (deciduous)Rhododendron spp.SW
Basswood, American lindenTilia americanaSW
BirchBetula spp.SW
BittersweetCelastrus spp.SW, SH, HW
BlueberryVaccinium spp.SW, HW
BroomCytisus spp.SW, HW
Callery pearPyrus calleryanaSH
Catalpa Catalpa spp.SW
ClematisClematis spp.SW, SH
Crabapple Malus spp.SW, SH
Crape myrtleLagerstroemia indicaSH
Cherry, floweringPrunus spp.SW, SH
Dawn redwoodMetasequoia glyptostroboidesSW, HW
DeutziaDeutzia spp.SW, HW
DogwoodCornus spp.SW, SH
ElderberrySambucus spp.SW
Elm Ulmus spp.SW
EuonymusEuonymus spp.HW
Forsythia Forsythia spp.SW, SH, HW
Fringe tree Chionanthus spp.SW
Ginkgo, Maidenhair treeGinkgo bilobaSW
Goldenrain treeKoelreuteria spp.SW
Hibiscus, ChineseHibiscus rosa-sinensisSW, SH
Honey locustGleditsia triacanthosHW
HoneysuckleLonicera spp.SW, HW
Hydrangea Hydrangea spp.SW, HW
Ivy, BostonParthenocissus tricuspidataSW, HW
LarchLarix spp.SW
LilacSyringa spp.SW
Maple Acer spp.SW, SH
Mock orangePhiladelphus spp.SW, HW
MulberryMorus spp.SW
Poplar, Aspen, CottonwoodPopulus spp.SW, HW
Poplar, yellow; Tulip tree; Tulip poplar Liriodendron tulipiferaSH
Quince, floweringChaenomeles spp.SH
Redbud Cercis spp.SW
Rose of Sharon, Shrub althea Hibiscus syriacusSW, HW
Rose Rosa spp.SW, SH, HW
Russian oliveElaeagnus angustifoliaHW
ServiceberryAmelanchier spp.SW
Smoke treeCotinus coggygriaSW
SpireaSpiraea spp.SW
St. JohnswortHypericum spp.SW
Sumac Rhus spp.SW
Sweet gumLiquidambar styracifluaSW
Trumpet creeperCampsis spp.SW, SH, HW
Virginia creeperParthenocissus quinquefoliaSW, HW
WeigelaWeigela spp.SW, HW
Willow Salix spp.SW, SH, HW
WisteriaWisteria spp.SW

aSW = softwood, SH = semi-hardwood, HW = hardwood.

Consumer Horticulture | Quick Reference

© Erv Evans, Consumer Horticulturalist
Shoprights NC State University