Plan the perfect garden with our interactive tool →

How to Propagate Berberis

...
Berberis image by Marian Maier from Fotolia.com

The genus Berberis contains a variety of low maintenance, 2- to 6-foot shrubs, known for their summer and fall landscape interest, such as lime or burgundy foliage. Some types yield ornamental berries in winter and tough thorns discourage deer foraging. Propagating Berberis shrubs by cuttings is an inexpensive way to increase landscaping plants.

Fill a container with drainage holes with a light-textured growing media, such as a good quality potting mix or a soilless media intended for propagation purposes.

Cut a 4- to 8-inch portion of a Berberis stem tip with sharp pruning shears in summer or fall. Remove the bottom 1-1/2 to 2 inches of leaves to avoid contact with the rooting medium, which helps prevent rotting.

Remove a small portion of growth hormone from the package. Scrape two 1-inch-long cuts around the bottom portion of the Berberis cutting, and dip the cut stem end into the hormone powder.

  • The genus Berberis contains a variety of low maintenance, 2- to 6-foot shrubs, known for their summer and fall landscape interest, such as lime or burgundy foliage.
  • Cut a 4- to 8-inch portion of a Berberis stem tip with sharp pruning shears in summer or fall.

Make a small hole in the potting mix, stick in the Berberis cutting and lightly firm the soil around it. Water the growing media to settle it around the cutting.

Place a bottomless milk jug or other similar container over the cutting to reduce moisture lost by evaporation.

Move the prepared cutting to a protected location out of direct sunlight. Check the potting mix daily, and add water as needed to keep it moist. Remove any dead leaves that fall from the cutting.

Remove the cutting to a 4 inch diameter pot after sufficient, 2- to 3-1/2-inch long, roots form, which may take two to three months, according to Washington State University extension. The cutting is beginning to root when a slight tug yields resistance.

  • Make a small hole in the potting mix, stick in the Berberis cutting and lightly firm the soil around it.

Acclimate the rooted cutting to outside growing conditions by gradually reducing the amount of time the cutting is covered by the milk jug, and provide the newly potted cutting a partial shade location for several weeks before placing in direct or bright sunlight.

Tip

Propagate more than one cutting at a time in case some fail to root.

Related Articles

How to Propagate Golden Euonymus
How to Propagate Golden Euonymus
How to Propagate Cuttings for a Creeping Jenny
How to Propagate Cuttings for a Creeping Jenny
How to Propagate Holly Bushes
How to Propagate Holly Bushes
How to Take a Cutting From a Snowball Bush
How to Take a Cutting From a Snowball Bush
How to Propagate Rosa Rugosa
How to Propagate Rosa Rugosa
How to Grow Jasmine from a Cutting
How to Grow Jasmine from a Cutting
How to Propagate Japanese Maple Tree Cuttings
How to Propagate Japanese Maple Tree Cuttings
How to Propagate Weigela
How to Propagate Weigela
How to Propagate Easter Cactus
How to Propagate Easter Cactus
How to Grow Carnations from Cuttings
How to Grow Carnations from Cuttings
How to Propagate Bottlebrush Plants From Cuttings
How to Propagate Bottlebrush Plants From Cuttings
Can I Root Plumbago From Cuttings?
Can I Root Plumbago From Cuttings?
The Best Way to Root a Jasmine Vine
The Best Way to Root a Jasmine Vine
Garden Guides
×