One healthy plant can become ten. Propagating from cuttings is one of the cheapest, easiest ways to fill your home and garden, and it doubles as a way to share favorites with friends.
A cutting is simply a piece of a plant (a stem, a leaf, or a shoot) that grows roots and becomes a new plant. Because it’s a clone, it carries the exact same flowers, leaves, and habits as its parent, something seeds can’t always promise.
Below you’ll find 20 reliable plants to try, along with simple instructions for each.
Why Grow Plants From Cuttings?
- It’s free. Skip the nursery bill and make new plants from ones you already own.
- It’s fast. A cutting skips the seed and seedling stage, so you get a bigger plant sooner.
- It’s predictable. The new plant matches the parent, including variegation, flower color, and flavor.
- It’s a good backup. Rooted cuttings insure you against losing a favorite plant to frost, pests, or neglect.
Types of Cuttings
Knowing which type to take, and when, makes a big difference.
- Softwood cuttings: Flexible new growth taken in spring and early summer. Most herbs and many shrubs root easily this way.
- Semi-hardwood cuttings: Stems that have begun to firm up, taken in mid to late summer. Common for roses, rosemary, and hydrangeas.
- Hardwood cuttings: Mature, leafless stems taken while the plant is dormant, from late fall to winter. Great for grapes, currants, figs, and forsythia.
- Leaf cuttings: A single leaf or leaf piece that produces roots and sometimes new shoots, as with succulents and African violets.
20 Plants You Can Grow From Cuttings
1. Pothos
Pothos is the classic beginner plant for propagation, and it’s very forgiving.
How to propagate:
- Cut a 4–6 inch piece of vine just below a node (the small bump where a leaf and root nub meet).
- Remove the lowest leaf and place the node in water or damp potting mix.
- Roots appear in 1–3 weeks. Pot up once they’re a couple of inches long.
Note: Pothos is toxic to cats and dogs if chewed.
2. Heartleaf Philodendron
This trailing houseplant roots as easily as pothos and grows quickly.
How to propagate:
- Take a cutting with at least two nodes and a leaf or two.
- Submerge the bottom node in water, keeping leaves above the surface.
- Move to soil when roots are 2–3 inches long.
3. Monstera
Monstera cuttings turn one plant into a whole jungle.
How to propagate:
- Cut just below a node that has a small aerial root, and include at least one leaf.
- Place the node in water or a moist, airy mix of potting soil and perlite.
- Expect roots within 2–4 weeks in a warm, bright spot.
4. Tradescantia (Wandering Jew)
One of the fastest rooters you can find. Cuttings often develop roots in days.
How to propagate:
- Snip 4-inch stem tips and remove the lower leaves.
- Place in water or push directly into moist soil.
- Plant several cuttings in one pot for a full, trailing look.
5. Coleus
Colorful coleus roots easily and lets you multiply your favorite leaf patterns.
How to propagate:
- Take 4–6 inch tips from non-flowering shoots and strip the lower leaves.
- Stand them in a glass of water in bright, indirect light.
- Pot them up when roots reach about an inch or two.
6. Basil
A few cuttings from one supermarket plant can supply an entire summer.
How to propagate:
- Cut 4-inch stems just below a node, and remove the leaves from the bottom half.
- Place in water in a sunny window and change the water every few days.
- Plant in soil once roots are 2 inches long. Pinch any flower buds.
7. Mint
Mint practically roots itself, so it’s a great confidence booster.
How to propagate:
- Take 4–6 inch stems and strip the lower leaves.
- Place in water or moist soil.
- Roots appear within about a week. Grow it in a pot, since mint spreads aggressively.
8. Rosemary
Rosemary takes longer than most herbs, but it’s worth the wait.
How to propagate:
- Choose a 3–4 inch piece of firm, non-flowering new growth, and strip the lower needles.
- Dip the end in rooting hormone and insert into a gritty mix of perlite and potting soil.
- Keep it lightly moist and out of harsh sun. Rooting can take 4–8 weeks.
9. Lavender
Lavender is best propagated from non-flowering shoots in late summer.
How to propagate:
- Pull or cut a 3–4 inch side shoot, ideally with a small piece of the main stem attached.
- Remove the lower leaves and insert into sandy, free-draining mix.
- Keep it barely moist and give it bright light. It can take several weeks to root.
10. Sage
Sage cuttings are quick to root in spring and early summer.
How to propagate:
- Take 3–4 inch softwood tips and remove the lower leaves.
- Dip in rooting hormone (optional) and plant in a light, well-drained mix.
- Keep moist until new growth shows, which means roots have formed.
11. Geranium (Pelargonium)
Garden geraniums are easy to overwinter as cuttings.
How to propagate:
- Cut a 4-inch tip just below a node, and remove the lower leaves and any flowers.
- Let the cut end dry for several hours to a day so it calluses.
- Plant in a gritty mix and water lightly. Skip the plastic bag, since geraniums prefer air circulation to avoid rot.
12. Fuchsia
Fuchsias root easily from softwood tips in spring and summer.
How to propagate:
- Take 3–4 inch tips with two or three pairs of leaves, and remove the lowest pair.
- Insert into moist potting mix and cover loosely with a clear bag for humidity.
- Roots form in 2–3 weeks. Pinch the tips afterward for a bushy plant.
13. Hydrangea
You can easily make new hydrangeas from early-summer softwood cuttings.
How to propagate:
- Cut a 4–6 inch stem from non-flowering growth, just below a pair of leaves.
- Remove the lower leaves and cut the top leaves in half to reduce moisture loss.
- Dip in rooting hormone, plant in moist mix, and cover with a clear bag out of direct sun.
Note: Some named hydrangea varieties are patented, so check the plant tag before propagating to sell or share.
14. Roses
Roses are slower, but rewarding. Many shrub and old garden roses root well.
How to propagate:
- Take a 6–8 inch cutting of pencil-thick growth, and remove all but the top leaves.
- Dip the base in rooting hormone and insert two-thirds into a pot of moist, gritty soil.
- Place in bright, indirect light and cover with a clear bag, venting often. Rooting can take 6–8 weeks or more.
15. Forsythia
Forsythia is one of the easiest shrubs for beginners because hardwood cuttings are so reliable.
How to propagate:
- In late fall or winter, cut 8–10 inch lengths of pencil-thick, leafless stems.
- Push two-thirds of each stick into loose, moist soil outdoors or in a deep pot.
- Keep the soil damp. By spring, new leaves signal that roots are forming.
16. Currants and Gooseberries
These fruiting shrubs are famously easy to multiply from dormant stems.
How to propagate:
- Take 8-inch hardwood cuttings in late fall or winter, with the bottom cut just below a bud.
- Insert them in prepared soil, leaving one or two buds above ground.
- Water during dry spells. Rooting happens quietly over winter and spring.
17. Grapevine
Grapes are propagated from dormant cuttings, making them a budget-friendly way to start a vineyard.
How to propagate:
- Cut dormant canes into pieces with three buds each.
- Bury the bottom two buds in loose, moist soil with the top bud above ground.
- Keep the soil evenly moist. New shoots will appear in spring.
18. Fig
Fig cuttings root well, whether taken in winter or summer.
How to propagate:
- Take an 8–10 inch cutting of mature, pencil-thick wood with several nodes.
- Insert it into a pot of moist, well-draining mix with a few nodes buried.
- Keep it warm and lightly moist. Wait for new leaves before transplanting.
19. Jade Plant
Jade plants root from both stem pieces and single leaves.
How to propagate:
- Cut a 3–4 inch stem or gently twist off a healthy leaf.
- Let the cut end dry for a few days until callused.
- Set it on or in dry, gritty succulent mix, and water lightly once roots begin to form.
20. African Violet
African violets multiply from a single leaf.
How to propagate:
- Cut a healthy leaf with about 1.5 inches of stem.
- Insert the stem into a light, moist potting mix, with the leaf resting above the soil.
- Keep it warm, bright, and humid. Tiny plantlets appear at the base after several weeks.
General Steps for Taking Cuttings
- Choose a healthy parent plant that is well-watered and free from pests or disease.
- Take your cutting using clean, sharp scissors or pruners, ideally in the morning when plants are full of moisture.
- Make the cut just below a node, and remove the leaves from the lower portion.
- Root it in water, moist perlite, or a light, free-draining potting mix.
- Provide the right conditions: warmth, bright but indirect light, and steady moisture.
- Pot up once you see strong roots, and harden off outdoor plants gradually.
Tips for Success
- Use clean tools. Sanitize blades with rubbing alcohol to prevent disease.
- Take extras. Not every cutting will succeed, so take more than you need.
- Try rooting hormone. It’s optional for easy plants but helpful for woody ones like roses and rosemary.
- Keep leaves above the surface. Leaves sitting in water or soil will rot.
- Maintain humidity for leafy cuttings. A clear bag or dome slows moisture loss, but vent it regularly to prevent mold.
- Be patient. Water-rooted herbs may take days, while woody shrubs can take weeks or months.
- Avoid disturbing roots. Resist pulling to check, since you may break fragile new growth.
Common Problems
- Cutting turns black or mushy: Too much moisture or poor drainage. Recut above the rot and start again with fresh mix.
- Wilting leaves: The cutting can’t take up water yet. Increase humidity and move out of direct sun.
- No roots after weeks: Try fresher material, more warmth, or rooting hormone.
Final Thoughts
Growing plants from cuttings is one of gardening’s most satisfying tricks. Start with easy winners like pothos, mint, and coleus, then try woody plants like hydrangeas and figs as your confidence grows. Before long, you’ll have more plants than pots, and plenty to give away.