Who doesn't love free plants? And who doesn't get a kick out of growing their own? You can enjoy both joys at once by taking softwood cuttings this spring, giving you a fresh batch of new plants to fill your garden.
Mid-spring is a sweet spot for softwood cuttings, and there's a long list of plants that work — shrubs, perennials, herbs, even some trees.
Since plants are putting on rapid growth in May, those cuttings tend to root fast. To get you outside with a pair of pruners, here are some popular backyard plants you can propagate this month. The real challenge might be finding room for all the new arrivals.
Quick tips for cutting success
Taking cuttings is pretty straightforward, but a few common mistakes can trip you up. Here's what to get right:
- Pick the right stems — use fresh, non-flowering growth from this season that's pest- and disease-free
- Use the right tools — always cut with clean, sharp pruners to avoid crushing the stem
- Care for them well — stick the cutting in a seed-starting or cutting-specific potting mix. Keep it moist, cover with a propagator lid or plastic bag, and set it somewhere bright but out of direct sun
What you'll need for softwood cuttings
A precision snip with micro-tip stainless steel blades — perfect for taking softwood cuttings in spring.
Lightweight, durable plastic pots with a dome that locks in moisture and boosts temperature for better cutting survival.
An all-natural mix that helps seeds germinate and cuttings root. It improves moisture retention and encourages root development.
Plants to propagate from softwood cuttings in May
Many plants can be grown from softwood cuttings taken in May from this season's new growth. Now that spring is here, add taking cuttings of shrubs, perennials, herbs, and even trees to your gardening checklist. Cuttings taken now should be ready to pot up by summer and plant out next spring.
Shrubs
Deciduous flowering shrubs bring beauty, texture, and structure to any garden. Many fast-growing shrubs are perfect for softwood cuttings from their new growth.
The stems should be flexible and snap when bent. Pick stems that are pliable but at the right stage — too young and they'll just bend without snapping; too woody and they won't bend at all.
A long list of shrubs can be cut in May, including hydrangea, butterfly bush, fuchsia, forsythia, spirea, perovskia, mock orange, and weigelia.
Herbs
Many herbs in your kitchen garden can be propagated from softwood cuttings — great for expanding your collection or sharing with friends.
Whether you want more herbs for cooking, baking, medicinal use, or companion planting, taking cuttings is quick and easy.
Herbs ideal for softwood cuttings include rosemary, sage, thyme, lavender, oregano, and savory.
Perennials
Perennials are workhorses that bring color year after year. They come in all shapes, heights, and hues, bloom for months, and attract bees and other pollinators.
To boost your supply, you can buy new plants, divide existing ones in spring or fall, or take cuttings of many popular perennials — both hardy and tender types.
Which perennials are prime for softwood cuttings this month? Think penstemon, osteospermum, verbena, chrysanthemums, pelargoniums, aubretia, heuchera, and coleus.
Trees
It might surprise you that some trees can be grown from softwood cuttings. It's more common for shrubs and perennials, but many tree species follow the same rules when you pick new growth.
Birch, magnolia, maples, willow, crab-apple, and some fruit trees can all be propagated from spring cuttings.
It's not the most common method — hardwood cuttings, budding, or grafting are more typical — but it's worth a try. And May is a great time to experiment with softwood cuttings from your favorite trees.
FAQs
Can you take geranium cuttings in May?
Tender geraniums (pelargoniums) are different from hardy geraniums. These colorful plants are popular for borders, pots, and hanging baskets but aren't frost-hardy, so they need overwintering indoors.
You can propagate pelargoniums from cuttings to boost your collection — and May is a good month for it. New plants taken now should flower next year. While cuttings can be taken any time of year, spring's warmth and light help them root faster.
If you're willing to wait for flowers from your cuttings, you can add quick color in the meantime. Plant perennial flowers in May for years of blooms, or sow annual flowers for fast-growing color in this summer's beds and borders.
