There’s something deeply satisfying about snipping off a bit of stem and turning it into a whole new plant. And while summer may be slipping quietly out the side door, don’t pack away your tools just yet. September still has plenty to offer on the propagation front.
For me, this is the month to get stuck into softwood cuttings of tender perennials and semi-ripe cuttings of flowering shrubs. I always see it as a kind of insurance policy – especially for pelargoniums, which may not survive the first frost. Far easier to store a dozen small pots in the greenhouse than to haul full-sized, large specimens around. I also like to prep a few trays of penstemons and fuchsias this month, to be spread around the yard next spring. A small amount of effort now for a big reward next year.
So, if you’re after a raft of free plants for spring and summer 2026, you’re in the right place. Here’s everything I know about what to propagate in September, one of the final, satisfying tasks on your late-summer gardening checklist.
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7 plants to propagate in September
September is a good time to get stuck into a spot of propagation. It’s not too hot, not too cold, and many of the best perennials and flowering shrubs are at an ideal point in their growth cycle to provide viable cuttings.
Learning how to take plant cuttings is pretty straightforward, but I always keep things simple. Clean snips, a bucket of water to drop cuttings into as I go (hydration is key), and a small table for potting up with gritty compost. It really is that simple.
Here are seven of my go-to plants to propagate in September.
1. Penstemon
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As some of the easiest perennials to grow, penstemon can always be relied on to inject some late summer color into borders.
There are so many varieties, most of which are hardy down to zone 4 in a range of colors, although I always love the crisp, clean white flowers of ‘White Bedder’.
I have found that these perennials root with ease and give back handsomely the following year. Simply take a handful of four to six-inch cuttings from non-flowering stems, or pinch out the buds if present.
Try this Fiskars pruning knife, available now from Amazon, which is perfect for taking cuttings and cleaning up the stems.
Remember to cut just below a node and strip the lower leaves. By spring, wiry roots will be out of the bottom of the pot, and your new penstemons will be ready to go.
2. Fuchsia
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I’ve grown fuchsias for many years, and while I used to be a little perturbed by the more popular two-tone varieties, in the last few years I have come round to them (at least the single shade options). In particular, I love ‘Grayrigg’, with its pale lilac flowers, which are perfect for cottage garden ideas.
In terms of how to take fuchsia cuttings, now is the perfect time. I have found that the earlier the better, really, so aim to get this done sooner rather than later in September, to give plenty of time for roots to develop before fall.
Cut four-inch sections, removing any lower leaves, and plant in a gritty mix. You can use rooting hormone powder, although it is not always needed. However, I have found it can help with propagation success rates.
Try this rooting hormone powder, available from Amazon, dipping first in water, then in the powder, before shaking off any excess.
Your cuttings will root best in a warm, humid spot – a greenhouse or a plastic bag over the pot will do.
3. Pelargoniums
(Image credit: Future/Ruth Hayes)
I have long been obsessed with pelargoniums. One of my go-to varieties in recent years has been Pelargonium sidoides, which has delicate five-petalled blooms that are the color of deep crimson. In pots on the patio, nothing could be better.
Most, if not all, pelargoniums are tender, surviving the winters only in zone 9 or zone 10. I suggest taking some cuttings now will make storage in the greenhouse far easier.
I’ve found pelargoniums root well from short three or four-inch cuttings taken from the tips of non-flowering stems, and a dab of rooting hormone can give them a boost, too.
Drainage is really important, so make sure to use seed and cuttings soil, like this from Amazon, and go easy on the water. Just a light dribble or mist every now and then will do.
4. Verbena
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If you like purple plants, then you won’t go far wrong with Verbena bonariensis. With lofty stems that can last through until October or November, this perennial is one of the best verbena varieties and is a real workhorse in the backyard.
If you are already growing this verbena, or perhaps you have the native blue vervain, now is a good time to take cuttings to grow more clumps next year.
Take four-inch verbena cuttings of non-flowering tips, and strip the lower leaves. Push several into a single pot of gritty mix. I often tuck them in around the edge of the pot, being sure that the leaves aren’t touching.
By spring, you’ll have plenty of little plants ready to kick into action next summer, that the butterflies go mad for.
And, if all else fails, you can always treat yourself to a new plant. Live Verbena hastata plants can be ordered via Amazon.
5. Salvia
(Image credit: Getty Images / R A Kearton)
If I had to pick a desert-island genus, Salvia spp. might just clinch it. I’ve grown dozens of varieties over the years, ranging from the blue-flowering bog sage, or Salvia uliginosa, to my current favorite, clary sage, or Salvia sclarea, which has white-lilac flower spikes in spring and summer.
To propagate salvia, you want firm side shoots. Snip just below a node, remove lower leaves and push into gritty compost.
One tool that will make the job easier is this wooden dibber, available via Amazon, which will quickly tunnel holes in the soil for each cutting.
And, as with all cuttings, don’t overwater. Salvias tend to sulk if too wet, so a little caution, patience and minimal fuss are best. By spring, you’ll have tidy little plants with roots poking out of the bottom of the pot.
6. Camellia
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Now is a brilliant time to try camellia cuttings – although, a warning, they do take a little while to become a good-sized flowering shrub. Think slow and steady, but very worth it.
In September, propagate camellias using this season’s growth. You want the stem to be brown, but still bendy. I would say cuttings of about six inches are best.
Simply strip the leaves, leaving only the top two, and dip them in hormone rooting powder.
It might take two to four months to spy a little white root or two at the bottom of the pot, so you might have to wait until next spring before repotting into individual containers.
7. California lilac
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If you are keen on shrubs that thrive on neglect, Ceanothus spp. (or California lilacs) are some of the best.
These low-maintenance shrubs thrive in hot, dry climates, producing lilac blooms in sunny yards.
They can get leggy after several years, so taking cuttings is a good way to replenish and replace older specimens when the time is right.
I suggest taking semi-ripe cuttings from the current season’s growth in September, ideally four to six inches long without blooms. You want fresh, healthy shoots that have turned a little hard and brown during the growing season.
Your California lilac cuttings will hate having wet feet, so a pot with good drainage is ideal. They might take a few months to develop roots, so a degree of patience is required for this tough shrub.
One final word of advice: overwatering is the biggest sin when taking cuttings. So, be sure to water sparingly, and add some sand, grit or perlite to your soil, to make it well-draining. Of course, some water retention is no bad thing, but you want to avoid waterlogged soil at all costs when it comes to these plants to propagate in September.
Perlite sacks can be ordered via Walmart.
Shop propagation accessories
These attractive red and white Okatsune pruners will prove to be a wise investment when taking stem cuttings.
Rooting hormone powder can help to encourage the development of roots for your cuttings this September.
These black gloves will keep your hands safe and protected when propagating plants as well as weeding and feeding.
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