As any gardener knows planting trees can get expensive. Purchasing saplings from a nursery often costs $10-50 each depending on the species and size. That adds up fast when you’re looking to establish a windbreak timber plantation, or wildlife habitat on your property. Luckily, there’s an easy and affordable way to get free trees – propagating them from cuttings!
Taking cuttings from parent trees and rooting them is an age-old method of cloning your favorite trees. Many species readily regenerate from cuttings allowing you to generate an endless supply of trees at no cost. In this article we’ll look at the 10 easiest trees to grow from cuttings so you can propagate these species on your own.
What is Propagating Trees from Cuttings?
Propagating trees from cuttings simply involves cutting off a stem or shoot from a parent tree and getting it to form roots. This creates an exact clone of the original tree. Cuttings allow you to multiply trees with desirable traits like fast growth, disease resistance, or abundant fruit/nuts.
To start trees from cuttings, you’ll need to:
- Take 6-8 inch stem cuttings with new growth when plants are actively growing.
- Wound the base by scraping off the bark.
- Dip in rooting hormone (optional).
- Stick into propagation medium like perlite, peat, sand.
- Maintain warmth and high humidity.
- Keep moist until roots form.
Once rooted, the new sapling can be transplanted into soil.
10 Best Trees for Propagating from Cuttings
Here are 10 of the easiest and most reliable trees to grow from stem cuttings:
1. Willow (Salix sp.)
Willow cuttings root extremely fast – often in 1-2 weeks. Take cuttings from new growth up to 8 inches long. Soak cut ends in water before planting. Provide minimal care and you’ll have a crop of new willow trees in no time.
2. Elderberry (Sambucus sp.)
Elderberries root readily from cuttings. Take 3-6 inch tip cuttings in summer. Simply stick into pots filled with sand or potting mix. Keep moist. Roots should develop within 4-8 weeks. Once rooted, plant into a protected spot for winter before transplanting outdoors.
3. Maple (Acer sp.)
Maples are propagated from softwood cuttings taken in late spring to early summer. Select shoots around 4-6 inches long. Wound the base and dip in rooting hormone. Stick into perlite or vermiculite and roots will form within 4-8 weeks. Keep cuttings humid and shaded. Japanese and Amur maples root the quickest.
4. Poplar (Populus sp.)
Aspen, cottonwood and other poplars root easily from dormant hardwood cuttings in late fall and winter. Take 1 foot lengths of bare branches and stick directly into soil. Roots form quickly even in cooler weather. Just protect from frost until spring.
5. Birch (Betula sp.)
Birches can be propagated from both softwood and hardwood cuttings. For softwood cuttings, take 4 inch lengths, wound, treat with rooting hormone and stick into perlite or vermiculite. Hardwood cuttings can be stuck right into soil. Keep both types moist and cool.
6. Dogwood (Cornus sp.)
Dogwoods root readily from softwood cuttings in summer. Take 3-6 inch tip cuttings and wound the base. Dip in rooting hormone and stick into potting soil. Place under a mist system and roots will develop within 4-8 weeks. Transplant in fall and provide winter protection.
7. Fig (Ficus carica)
Figs are easy to root from dormant hardwood cuttings over winter. Take 6-12 inch cuttings and remove leaves and tips. Stick into pots filled with damp perlite/vermiculite. Keep in a cool spot over winter and transplant in spring after roots emerge.
8. Mulberry (Morus sp.)
Take softwood mulberry cuttings in spring and early summer. Select vigorous shoots around 6 inches long and wound the ends. Dip in rooting hormone and insert into perlite or potting soil. Maintain warmth and high humidity. Cuttings will root in 4-8 weeks.
9. Olive (Olea europaea)
Olives can be propagated from semi-hardwood cuttings in summer. Take 6 inch cuttings, wound, dip in hormone and stick into sandy soil. Maintain temperature around 70°F. Roots will form in 3-8 weeks. Transplant into containers for the first year.
10. Catalpa (Catalpa sp.)
Catalpas root quickly from softwood cuttings in spring. Take 3-6 inch tip cuttings, wound and treat with rooting powder. Stick into perlite or potting soil, keep humid and roots will develop within 4-6 weeks. Pinch off any flowers the first year and overwinter potted cuttings.
Tips for Successful Rooting
Follow these tips to maximize your success propagating trees from cuttings:
- Take cuttings when plants are actively growing in spring and summer.
- Select healthy, vigorous shoots around 4-8 inches long.
- Cut just below a node and remove leaves from lower half.
- Wound the base by scraping off 1-2″ of bark.
- Dip wounded ends in rooting hormone (optional but boosts success).
- Stick into loose, well-draining medium like perlite, vermiculite, peat, sand.
- Maintain consistent warmth and humidity. Use a heat mat, mist system, greenhouse, etc.
- Keep propagation medium moist but not soggy.
- Monitor for root development in 4-8 weeks.
- Gradually acclimate rooted cuttings to outdoor conditions before planting in soil.
Troubleshooting Propagation Problems
If your cuttings fail to take root, here are some common issues to troubleshoot:
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Cuttings dried out – Maintain constant moisture in the rooting medium. Cover with plastic to contain humidity.
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Waterlogged cuttings – Improve drainage and reduce watering frequency. Avoid oversaturating.
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Temperatures too low – Cuttings need consistent warmth around 70-80°F to root well. Provide heat mats or greenhouse warmth.
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Too much light – Shade cuttings until roots establish. Direct sun can scorch tender new growth.
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Incorrect timing – Take cuttings only when parent plants are growing vigorously in spring/summer.
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Poor selection – Use only vigorous, new growth. Avoid weak, flowering, or woody stems.
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Insufficient wounding – Wound the entire base 1-2 inches by scraping off the outer bark. This promotes quicker root emergence.
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Diseased cuttings – Select only healthy parent plants and sanitize tools between cuts.
With a little patience and tweaking of your methods, you’ll be rooting tree cuttings like a pro. Enjoy endless supplies of free saplings from your own propagation efforts.
Top Species for Beginners
If you’re just getting started with propagating trees from cuttings, stick to these easy species:
Willow – Roots quickest (1-2 weeks) from spring cuttings even without rooting hormones.
Elderberry – Takes softwood cuttings in summer. Minimal care needed.
Poplar – Hardwood cuttings root readily when stuck into soil over winter.
Dogwood – Softwood cuttings root in 4-8 weeks under mist system. Prefers summer propagation.
Mulberry – Easy to root softwood cuttings in early summer.
Advanced Species to Try
Once you’ve mastered the basics, try your hand at these trees that require a bit more skill and care:
Oak – Strike semi-hardwood cuttings in fall and overwinter in a cold frame. Slow but doable.
Apple – Take mid-summer tip cuttings and root under intermittent mist system. Needs warm temps.
Mango – Use vigorous shoots in spring. Wounding optional. Keep warm; roots emerge in 4-8 weeks.
Rubber – Root tip cuttings in a 90-100% humidity environment. Bottom heat speeds rooting.
Ginkgo – Take 3-4″ softwood cuttings in June. Use rooting hormone. Maintain warmth and humidity.
Propagating trees from cuttings is an easy, free way to multiply your favorite trees. Many species readily root from properly taken and cared for cuttings. Follow basic guidelines for taking, wounding, and rooting cuttings. Provide consistent warmth and humidity as needed. With practice, you’ll soon be generating saplings for pennies on the dollar compared to nursery prices!
Propagating Figs and Mulberries from Hardwood Cuttings
Figs are an extremely popular fruit tree to grow from cuttings. Mulberries are in the same Moracaea family as figs and can be propagated using similar techniques. Both are vigorous growers and fruit on first year wood. The steps below are mostly about figs, but they can also be used to root many types of mulberries.
- People trust One Green World Nursery, an online nursery that sells fully grown plants. This blog post is great about how they root cuttings. Rooting Dormant Hardwood Fig Cuttings .
- All of JSacadura’s videos on growing figs are great, but this one is especially good because it shows how to root fig cuttings in a common way. Rooting Fig Cuttings | A foolproof rooting method .
- Mark Travis has put together a great site on mulberries. Find out more about which types of mulberries can be grown from hardwood cuttings and which ones can’t. Growing Mulberries – Propagating .
Propagating Willows, Cottonwoods, and Dogwoods from Hardwood CuttingsWillow is considered the easiest plant to reproduce from hardwood cuttings. This is primarily because they already possess higher levels of rooting hormone. There are a wide range of willow types. They can be used as shade trees, source material for weaving, living structures like a ‘fedge’, and the branches of a curly willow or others loaded with fuzzy catkins can be used as decoration. Cottonwoods and dogwoods are also relatively easy to propagate and are frequently mentioned together with willows when discussing propagation.
- A short guide from Iowa State University Extension shows how to grow willows from seed in the ground in the spring. “How can I propagate willow?” .
- Jason at Fraser Valley Rose Farm has a lot of great videos on how to grow roses from seed. He also has a great video here on how to grow willows and dogwoods from seed in pots. “Grow Willow from Cuttings (dogwood too)” .
- In this video, Casey Hentges from the Oklahoma Gardening Channel talks about a number of different types and how to use water to help willows grow roots. “Propagating Willows” .
Propagating Trees with Cuttings – An important tip
FAQ
What is the easiest tree to propagate from cuttings?
What trees grow best from cuttings?
Can you grow any tree from a cutting?
What trees can be grown from cuttings?
Fruit trees such as apples and pears are capable of being grown from cuttings, as are many deciduous trees such as maples and oaks. Further, numerous evergreen tree species can also be grown from cuttings. Other popular trees to grow from cuttings include Fig, Locust, Olive, Juniper, and Willow, and most Citrus trees.
How to grow a tree from a cutting?
You should take thin 8 inches long cuttings from a young and healthy tree. Take a cup and fill it with water and add a pinch of rooting hormone. Now leave the cuttings in the solution for 8 to 10 days but change the water every 2 to 3 days. After that plant these cuttings in well-drained soil.
Can fruit trees be grown from cuttings?
It is suggested that the fruit tree should be grown from the cuttings from a tree of the desired variety. It is good to buy established plants because you can get fruit quickly as compared to other methods which you adopt for growing fruits but it is expensive. Growing fruits from cutting is a cheap way of producing fruits.
Can a pear tree grow from cuttings?
Pear is another fruit tree that can easily grow from the cuttings. It needs full sun and acidic soil. The pH of the soil must be between 6.0 and 6.5. With proper care and attention, it is possible to propagate the pear tree from cuttings. It is suggested that you should plant multiple cuttings, in this way, at least one will live.