How Do I Take Cuttings from Roses?

Many roses propagate readily from cuttings, producing own-root plants that — unlike grafted nursery roses — will never produce suckers from a different rootstock. Hardwood cuttings taken in autumn are the simplest method and require no specialist equipment. Softwood cuttings taken in summer root faster but need more careful management. Either way, propagating your own roses from cuttings is a satisfying way to multiply favourite plants for free.

Hardwood cuttings in autumn

Take hardwood rose cuttings in October or November, when the wood has ripened and the plant is going dormant. Select pencil-thick stems of the current season's growth — they should snap cleanly rather than bending. Cut each stem into sections 20–25 cm long, making the bottom cut just below a node (leaf joint) and the top cut just above a node. Remove all leaves except perhaps one or two at the top. Dip the base of each cutting in hormone rooting powder if available. Push the cuttings into a narrow trench in a sheltered spot, with two thirds below ground. Firm the soil and leave them through winter. Most will have rooted by the following autumn and can be transplanted to a permanent position.

Softwood cuttings in summer

Softwood cuttings are taken in late spring or early summer from the soft tip growth of the current season — just after the first flush of flowers. Cut stems of about 10–15 cm with three or four leaf nodes. Remove all but the top two leaves and any flowers or buds. Dip the cut end in hormone rooting gel or powder. Insert into pots of free-draining compost mixed with equal parts sharp sand, and cover with a clear plastic bag or place in a propagator to maintain humidity. Keep in a warm, bright spot out of direct sun. Rooting takes four to six weeks. Once rooted and showing new growth, pot on or plant out.

Which roses root best from cuttings

Species roses and old garden roses generally root very readily from cuttings. Many shrub roses and ramblers also root well. Modern hybrid tea and floribunda roses are more variable — some root freely, others are reluctant. If a particular variety fails to root from cuttings, grafting is the alternative, though this is more complex. Try at least four or five cuttings from any given rose, as success rates vary even with the same method.

Own-root plants versus grafted plants

Own-root roses grown from cuttings will never produce rootstock suckers and often become more vigorous over time as the root system matures. The main disadvantage is that they typically establish more slowly in the first year or two than grafted plants, which have the advantage of an established rootstock to drive early growth.