How to Propagate Clematis from Layering and Cuttings

Create more of your favorite varieties for free by learning how to propagate clematis. These hardy perennials come in hundreds of varieties that offer a variety of colors and shapes. If you collect and grow seeds from your clematis plant, you may end up with plants that don’t resemble your original plant. To grow new plants that look exactly like the original variety, the two best propagation methods to use are cuttings and layering. Follow this simple step-by-step guide to propagate clematis plants from multi-layered stems or from root cuttings.

Propagate Clematis by Cuttings

Stem cuttings are a great way to create more clematis plants than you would normally grow in a single season.

Tip:

Not all cuttings will root and grow, so take several cuttings to ensure success. It is normal for less than 50 percent of the cuttings to root.

Step 1: Identify New Growth Stems.

Take softwood cuttings from new, tender stems in late spring. For best results, select stems that are just beginning to harden. These stems are ready and able to produce their own roots.

Step 2: Take Cuttings.

Cut and separate the selected stem from the rest of the plant.

Step 3: Remove the leaves.

The stem consists of a series of nodes from which leaves emerge on either side every few inches. Remove the leaves at the base of each node along the entire length of the stem, leaving a few leaves above each node.

Step 4: Prepare the Cuttings.

Cut the stem into 3- to 4-inch sections, cutting just below the node. Each section should contain a node, a section of stem, and a set of leaves.

Step 5: Apply Rooting Hormone.

Dip about 1 inch of each section into the rooting hormone, then allow it to dry for a few minutes.

Step 6: Plant the Cuttings

Prepare a 4- or 5-inch container of moist soil and poke holes along the edges with a pencil or pen. Gently place the cuttings in the soil and press the soil against the stems, holding them in place.

Step 7: Care for the cuttings until they root.

Place the cuttings in bright, indirect light, dappled shade, or artificial light, and keep the potting soil moist. The cuttings should begin rooting within two to three months of new growth, depending on climate and other environmental conditions.

Propagating Clematis by Layering

Perhaps the easiest and most natural way to propagate clematis is by layering. Layering is a process where the roots of the plant grow directly from its stem when it touches the ground. This technique may not work well in cold climates where the stems die back to the ground each winter.

Step 1: Select the stems for layering.

Select the new, flexible stems in the spring and prune them back to soil level, either in pots or in the ground. Depending on the length of the stem, you may be able to create more than one clone along the stem.

Step 2: Prepare the stems.

Using a sharp knife, make a small cut on one side of each selected stem where it will contact the soil. You can also apply a little powdered rooting hormone to the cut portion of the stem.

Step 3: Cover the stems with soil.

Whether in the ground or in a nearby container, press the cut end of each stem into the soil and cover it gently with about an inch and a half to an inch of soil.

Step 4: Secure the stems in place.

Hold the buried portion of each stem under the soil with a small rock, garden pin, or broken piece of pottery. Repeat this process if the stem is long enough to produce more than one plant, leaving at least 6 inches of space between them.

Step 5: Water and wait.

Keep the affected parts of the stem moist and disturb them as much as possible.

Step 6: Watch for new growth.

Over the course of a year or two, the plants will likely grow. Once you see new growth, cut the stem that connects it to the parent plant to create fully independent plants. Gently dig up the new clematis plants and transplant them to where you want them to grow.

Caring for Clematis Cuttings

Once the cuttings have rooted and begun to grow, transplant them into individual pots and provide them with plenty of sunlight and moisture. Use a light dose of organic fertilizer according to the product instructions to help the new plants grow and prepare for the next season.

Once the clematis cuttings begin to mature, in about a year, plant them in the garden. The transplanted cuttings are as hardy as their parent plants and require the same amount of care.