Plant Propagation – Runners

Last month we switched our “Birds and Bees” series from sexual reproduction, to asexual reproduction (see Plant Propagation – Cuttings). With asexual reproduction, a new plant forms as a genetic clone of a single parent. Asexual reproduction has some advantages if sexual reproduction is impossible, or if a grower wants to propagate multiple plants with the same characteristics as the parent plant. The disadvantage is that the plants may be vulnerable to some diseases, or pests.

In this article, I’m partnering with guest bloggers Al and Bina Harris from Southeast Alaska. They are reporting on their own experiences with stolons in their summer garden. Some plants send out runners (or stolons) as an asexual means of reproduction. A runner is a stem that develops at the crown of a plan and grows horizontally from the source. New plants form at nodes on the stolon, and take root while still attached to the parent plant. Gardeners can take advantage of this tendency, and plant the nodes to grow new plants.

Ranunculus repens (Creeping Buttercup)

The common buttercup is a fixture in damp meadows and drainage ditches in Southeast Alaska. They are lovely addition to the scenery when you are out hiking. If you are a gardener though, they are not as welcome. They send out many stolons which put down a new plant at each node. For the gardener, this represents the potential of a weed at every node!

Buttercup stolon - each node is a potential weed

Fragaria spp. (Strawberry)

The strawberry plant, on the other hand, sends out many stolons, which are welcomed by gardeners. Each node represents a potential strawberry plant to add to the strawberry bed!

A productive strawberry plant to the left, sends out a stolon to the right

Nodes guided to containers in which to take root

After several days the plants are doing fine and ready to be transplanted.
The originating stolon can be severed once the starter takes root.

The new plant is already sending out its own stolon

Seven of the ten new strawberry plants produced via stolon

Good healthy root systems in the new plants (and already producing more stolon)

Special thanks to Al and Bina Harris for photographs and report. It is always interesting to share stories with gardeners in other climates!