Propagation of Fruiting Shrubs and Trees

General tips for propagating shrubs and trees

• Take cuttings in the morning when plants are hydrated, cut at an angle to have more area for rooting.
• Put potted cuttings in a shady humid place, like underneath a mature shrub or in a greenhouse-like environment (cover pots with plastic bags to create a mini greenhouse).
• As a general rule don’t cut off more than 1/3rd of a parent plant every year unless you want it to be stunted.
• Use a sterilized planting medium like seed starting mixes from the store or sanitize it yourself to prevent molds and fungus, especially damping off disease for seeds. Sterilize tools before taking cuttings.
• Check if the variety is trademarked or patented before you propagate it. You can always grow seeds because they will be genetically unique.
• Harden off plants gradually.

Propagation of a few specific plants

Plant	Best propagation technique	Notes	Resources
Pawpaw	Seeds, do not allow to dry or freeze, needs cold stratification, sow in tall pot		https://www.kysu.edu/academics/college-acs/school-of-ace/pawpaw/pawpaw-planting-guide.php
Pomegranate	hardwood cuttings when plant is dormant (late winter), suckers	Plant is unlikely to be grafted so suckers will be true to the parent plant.	https://gardenerspath.com/plants/fruit-trees/propagate-pomegranate/#Rooting-Cuttings-and-Suckers
Fig	cuttings in fall (October)		https://youtu.be/4eQjpPlpcxQ
Hardy Kiwi	softwood cuttings June-July		https://homeguides.sfgate.com/propagating-cutting-hardy-kiwi-30181.html
Aronia	hardwood cuttings during dormancy (winter) root cuttings or suckers during dormancy seeds cold stratification needed		https://www.inthemoodforfruits.com/how-to-propagate-aronia-berries/
Serviceberry	take suckers during active growth (spring) take root cuttings during dormancy (late fall, very early spring), seeds cold stratifcation		https://www.ecofriendlyincome.com/blog/how-to-propagate-saskatoon-serviceberry
Jujube	grafting early spring, green softwood cuttings		https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/minor-fruits/propagating-jujubes?page=0%2C1
			https://growingfruit.org/t/jujube-green-cuttings-rooting-success/17827/2
Persimmon	grafting early spring, cuttings late fall, seeds cold stratify sow in tall pot		https://homeguides.sfgate.com/grow-persimmons-seed-45681.html
			https://www.ehow.com/how_12230773_propagating-persimmon-stem-cuttings.html
Quince	mound layering in spring		https://ucanr.edu/sites/btfnp/fruitnutproduction/Quince/Quince_Propagation/
Goji	seed (soak seeds), softwood cutting late spring		https://homeguides.sfgate.com/propagate-goji-berry-plants-cuttings-59716.html
Currant/Gooseberry	suckers, division from mother plant, tip-rooting, hardwood cuttings in the fall, softwood cuttings in the spring		https://growingfruit.org/t/propagating-currants-and-gooseberries-from-cuttings-when-and-how-best-done/5044/3
Rose	softwood cuttings late spring, semi-hardwood cuttings late summer/early fall, hardwood cuttings during dormancy late fall/early winter		https://www.gardentech.com/blog/how-to-guides/growing-roses-from-cuttings
Dragonfruit	cuttings		https://gardenerd.com/blog/propagating-dragon-fruit-from-cuttings/
Apples	grafting during dormant season early spring, bud grafting when bark is slippery (active growth), mound layering		https://www.ndsu.edu/pubweb/chiwonlee/plsc368/student/papers02/maasheim/appleprop.htm It’s possible to collect suckers from other apple trees for use as rootstocks.
Bananas	suckers (pups) early fall		https://getbusygardening.com/how-to-propagate-banana-plants/
Guava	take root cuttings, softwood cuttings use rooting hormone, grafting,	Grows well from seed but not true to type.	https://harvesttotable.com/how-to-grow-guava/.
			https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/MG045
Mulberry	hardwood cuttings late winter, grafting	Dioecious. Seeds grow well when they are from a female tree that has a male nearby, otherwise seeds are sterile. Fruits will not be true to type, but they will probably still be yummy.	http://www.twisted-tree.net/propagating-mulberry-trees
Hazelnut	softwood cuttings and root cuttings during active growth (late spring early summer) keep moist, hardwood cuttings during dormancy, small suckers late fall, seeds: score outer shell or cold stratify (not true to type), mound layering		https://www.wcngg.com/2022/01/27/hazelnut-propagation-a-closer-look-at-growing-hazelnuts-from-cuttings/
			https://gardenerspath.com/plants/nut-trees/grow-hazelnut/#Propagation
Pistachio	T-bud grafting July when bark can be peeled,	Can be grown from seed, it's dioecious. Needs cold stratification.	https://wikifarmer.com/how-to-grow-pistachio-tree-from-nut/
			https://www.heartofthedesert.com/faq-trees-heart-of-the-desert/
Almond	T-bud grafting in summer (early spring to fall will work, summer is ideal) onto prunus rootstock usually peach	Can grow from seed but not true to type. Cold stratify.	https://wikifarmer.com/almond-tree-propagation/?amp
Stone fruits	chip bud grafting
Seaberry	fall 10mm hardwood cuttings before end of year, summer thick softwood cuttings July August, suckers	Dioecious.	https://www.perfectcircle.farm/vegetative-propagation-seaberry
Passionflower	runners in summer, leaf cuttings, seeds (soak 1-2 days)		https://dengarden.com/gardening/How-to-Grow-Passion-Flower-Maypop
Strawberry	runners anytime between spring and fall pin them to the ground until they root
Alpine Strawberries	seed		Alpine strawberries: seed
Goumi	cuttings mid to late summer	Seeds need warm stratification followed by cold stratification. Will not be true to type but likely still good.	https://www.phillyorchards.org/2021/06/07/spotlight-on-goumi-berry-nitrogen-fixer-extraordinaire/
Autumn Olive	cuttings Dec Jan seeds cold stratify		https://www.inthemoodforfruits.com/how-to-propagate-autumn-olives/
Silverberry	suckers late fall/early spring, layer branches in fall, semi-softwood cuttings in fall, summer cuttings also root easily		https://homeguides.sfgate.com/root-elaeagnus-66236.html
Che	softwood cuttings midsummer use rooting hormone, graft onto osage orange rootstock	Seeds need to be planted right after you remove them from the fruit.	https://crfg.org/wiki/fruit/che/
Cornus Kousa	green cuttings July or August	Seeds need warm stratification followed by cold stratification.	https://www.phillyorchards.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Cornelian-Cherry-Plant-Info-Sheet-.pdf
Cornelian Cherry	stem tip cuttings summer, layering	Seeds need cold stratification.	https://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/database/lppi/sp103.shtml
Medlar	grafting onto quince, hawthorn, or pear, summer softwood cuttings	Seeds can take up to 18 months to germinate.	https://leafnetworkaz.org/resources/PLANT%20PROFILES/Medlar_profile.pdf
Rhubarb	divide pieces from 4-5 year old plants spring or fall, seeds	Seedlings probably have similar taste to parent plant but may not have the red coloring.	https://www.rhubarbinfo.com/2019/03/propagating-rhubarb.html?m=1
Raspberry	split a plant or dig runners/suckers at any time of year (some sources say fall is best) cut down to 12-18 inches before dividing, tip layering, cuttings in late winter		https://www.sarabackmo.com/how-to-propagate-raspberries/
			https://deepgreenpermaculture.com/2020/07/27/how-to-grow-prune-and-propagate-raspberries/?amp=1
Blackberry	suckers, tip layering, take root cuttings in the fall, leafy stem cuttings		https://www.happysprout.com/inspiration/propagate-blackberries/?amp
Honeyberry	dormant stem cuttings, can root in water or the ground	Need two varieties for cross pollination. Seeds do not need stratification.	https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/honeyberries/how-to-grow-honeyberries.htm