Native Plant Propagation Workshop

I recently attended a native plant propagation workshop sponsored by Bring Back the Natives. After last year's focus on pollination and plant propagation, the workshop sounded like a good next step. Judy Addler teaches "California native plant propagation: How to create native plants from seeds, cuttings, and divisions". Judy is a passionate sustainable gardener and educator, with an experimental garden in Walnut Creek. She loves to teach kids and adults about native plants, biodiversity, ecology, and sustainable gardening.

Judy prepping for the workshop

Native seeds used for plant propagation

In the outdoor workshop, we learned about seed propagation, seed collection, and the importance of seed saving. We toured the dry garden that Judy has developed over the last 20 years, the teaching garden close to the nearby elementary school, and her personal test garden with its fruit trees, chickens, and water harvesting.

Dividing bunch grass for propagation

Native elderberry started from woody cuttings

Scions for edible walnuts may be grafted on to hardy native root stock

Judy demonstrated her approach to plant propagation – collecting seeds for later planting or just tossing them nearby the parent; dividing bunch grass and sticking the divisions in the ground; pinching off soft and hardwood cuttings for replanting; describing how English walnut scions were grafted onto native walnut root stock; layering native honeysuckle and grape vines; and sticking woody stems in the ground to sprout roots from the nodes.

Milkweed, favored by migrating Monarch butterflies, propagate through underground runners

Coyote bush (foreground) are dioecious so propagate with this in mind

Layering was used to start the native honeysuckle and grape vines on the fence

The whole-time Judy layers in information about observing the land, taking clues from nature, and using native plants to create a wildlife habitat. Her approach is fearless and experimental (not a root hormone or coddled plant in sight). We left with our collection bags full and ready to try it for ourselves. I highly recommend this workshop, and any other offered by Bring Back the Natives.

Ready to propagate plants collected in Walnut Creek

Plant Propagation – Cuttings

In our “Birds and Bees” series, we have been learning all about plant propagation. Up to now, we have been investigating sexual reproduction, which involves combining genetic contributions from both pollen (male) and an egg (female) to produce a seed. For the next few months we’re going to learn about asexual reproduction, where a new plant is formed from cells of a single parent (a genetic clone).

Asexual propagation can occur via leaves, stems, and roots. For the gardener, propagation methods include taking cuttings of a plant, dividing plants, separating stolons, harvesting bulbets or rhizomes, layering, and grafting. This summer, inspired by Jack Kraemer’s Grow Your Own Plants, I experimented with taking leaf and stem cuttings of some of my potted succulents.

Kalanchoe blossfeldiana (Flaming Katy)

The parent plant was part of a welcome gift from a new employer. Flaming Katy is a house plant, but mine has thrived outside in the mild San Francisco Bay Area climate for many years, surviving both drought and wet feet. In May, I stuck stems into regular potting soil, and three months later have rooted plants.

Top left: parent plant (and leaf cuttings). Top right: stem cuttings.

Bottom left: transplants. Bottom right: rooted stem cutting.

Schlumbergera truncata (Christmas Cactus)

I purchased the parent plant from the grocery store last year to help decorate the house for Christmas. Christmas Cactus is also a common house plant, but mine has thrived outside during our mild summer weather. The “leaves” are actually flattened stems, called cladodes. Each stem section sports several aerial roots. I stuck several of the stems into regular potting soil, and now have several new plants.

Top left: parent plant (still in its red foil wrapper). Top right: cladode with aerial roots.

Bottom left: transplants. Bottom right: roots.

Sedum morganianum (Donkey Tail)

The parent plant was a gift from relatives in Southern California. I was quite taken with their collection of potted Donkey Tails hanging from the trees and pergola in their  Huntington Beach backyard. I stuck individual leaves and stems into regular potting soil, and three months later have healthy, rooted plants.

Top left: parent plant. Top right: stems and leaves.

Bottom left: transplants. Bottom right: roots and a pup forming at the base.

Asexual propagation is a great survival mechanism for plants, especially when sexual reproduction is not possible. For the gardener, propagation using leaf or stem cuttings is a great way to propagate plants with desirable traits, and an easy way to multiply plants for your own use, or to give as gifts to friends and family.