The Top 10 Easiest Trees to Grow from Cuttings

Growing trees from cuttings is an inexpensive and easy way to propagate your favorite trees. Instead of spending money buying saplings from a nursery you can clone trees by taking cuttings from parent trees and getting them to root. Many deciduous and evergreen trees readily regenerate when stem cuttings are taken at the right time of year and cared for properly. If you want to multiply the best trees in your yard or generate an endless supply of free saplings, then propagation from cuttings is a great option.

In this article, I’ll cover the 10 easiest trees to grow from cuttings. I’ll also explain exactly how to take cuttings from parent trees and get them to root. With just a little patience and care, you’ll be propagating all sorts of trees from cuttings in no time!

What Does Propagating Trees from Cuttings Mean?

Taking a cutting from a parent tree and getting it to grow roots is how trees are spread. This results in an identical clone of the original tree. It lets you make copies of trees that have good traits like fast growth, disease resistance, lots of flowers or fruit, nice fall color, and so on.

To start trees from cuttings, you need to:

• Take 6-8 inch stem cuttings from new growth when plants are actively growing.
• Wound the base by scraping off some bark.
• Dip in rooting hormone (optional).
• Stick into a propagation medium like perlite, peat, sand.
• Maintain warmth and high humidity.
• Keep moist until roots form.

Once rooted, the new sapling can be transplanted into soil.

The 10 Best Trees for Cuttings

Here are the 10 easiest and most reliable trees to grow from stem cuttings:

1. Willow (Salix sp.)

Willow cuttings root extremely quickly – often in just 1-2 weeks. Take cuttings from new growth up to 8 inches long. Soak the cut ends in water before planting. With minimal care, you’ll have a crop of new willow trees in no time.

2. Elderberry (Sambucus sp.)

Elderberries root readily from summer tip cuttings. Take 3-6 inch cuttings and simply stick them into pots filled with sand or potting mix. Keep the cuttings moist and roots should develop within 4-8 weeks. Once rooted, plant them into a protected spot for winter before transplanting them outside.

3. Maple (Acer sp.)

Maples can be propagated from softwood cuttings taken in late spring to early summer. Select shoots around 4-6 inches long, wound the base, and dip them in rooting hormone. Stick the cuttings into perlite or vermiculite and roots will form within 4-8 weeks. Keep the cuttings humid and shaded as they root. Japanese and Amur maples root the quickest.

4. Poplar (Populus sp.)

Aspen, cottonwood and other poplars root easily from dormant hardwood cuttings in late fall and winter. Take 1 foot lengths of bare branches and stick them directly into soil. Roots form quickly even in cooler weather. Just protect them from frost until spring.

5. Birch (Betula sp.)

Birches can be propagated from both softwood and hardwood cuttings. For softwood cuttings, take 4 inch lengths, wound them, treat them with rooting hormone and stick them into perlite or vermiculite. Hardwood cuttings can simply be stuck right into soil. Keep both types moist and cool as they root.

6. Dogwood (Cornus sp.)

Dogwoods root readily from softwood cuttings in summer. Cut off 3 to 6 inch tips, cut the base of them, and dip them in rooting hormone. To grow the cuttings, put them in potting soil and mist them. Roots will develop within 4-8 weeks. Transplant the cuttings in fall and provide winter protection.

7. Fig (Ficus carica)

Fig cuttings that have been dormant all winter are easy to grow roots from. Cut the plants into 6 to 12 inch pieces, remove the leaves and tips, and stick them into wet perlite or vermiculite. Over the winter, put the cuttings somewhere cool. In the spring, when the roots start to show, move them to a new spot.

8. Mulberry (Morus sp.)

Take softwood mulberry cuttings in spring and early summer when growth is most vigorous. Select shoots around 6 inches long, wound the ends, and dip them in rooting hormone. Insert the cuttings into perlite or potting soil. Maintain warmth and high humidity as they root. Cuttings will root in 4-8 weeks.

9. Olive (Olea europaea)

Olives can be propagated from semi-hardwood cuttings in summer. Take 6 inch cuttings, wound them, dip them in hormone and stick them into sandy soil. Maintain a temperature around 70°F. Roots will form in 3-8 weeks. Transplant the cuttings into containers for their first year.

10. Catalpa (Catalpa sp.)

Catalpas root quickly from softwood cuttings in spring. Take 3-6 inch tip cuttings, wound them, treat them with rooting powder and stick them into perlite or potting soil. Keep the cuttings humid and roots will develop within 4-6 weeks. Pinch off any flowers the first year and overwinter the potted cuttings.

Tips for Successful Rooting

Follow these tips to maximize your success propagating trees from cuttings:

• Take cuttings when plants are actively growing in spring and summer.

• Select healthy, vigorous shoots around 4-8 inches long.

• Cut just below a node and remove leaves from the lower half.

• Wound the base by scraping off 1-2” of bark.

• Dip the wounded ends in rooting hormone (optional but boosts success).

• Stick the cuttings into a loose, well-draining medium like perlite, vermiculite, peat, sand.

• Maintain consistent warmth and high humidity. Use a heat mat, mist system, greenhouse, etc.

• Keep the propagation medium evenly moist but not soggy.

• Check for root development in 4-8 weeks.

• Gradually acclimate rooted cuttings to outdoor conditions before planting them in soil.

Troubleshooting Propagation Problems

If your cuttings fail to take root, here are some common issues to troubleshoot:

• Cuttings dried out – Maintain constant moisture in the rooting medium. Cover it with plastic to contain humidity.

• Waterlogged cuttings – Improve drainage and reduce watering frequency. Avoid oversaturating the medium.

• Temperatures too low – Cuttings need consistent warmth around 70-80°F to root well. Provide heat mats or greenhouse warmth.

• Too much light – Shade cuttings until roots establish. Direct sun can scorch tender new growth.

• Incorrect timing – Only take cuttings when parent plants are growing vigorously in spring/summer.

• Poor selection – Only use vigorous, new growth. Avoid weak, flowering, or woody stems.

• Not enough wounding—Scrape off the top layer of bark to wound the whole base 1-2 inches. This promotes quicker root emergence.

• Diseased cuttings – Only select healthy parent plants and sanitize tools between each cutting.

With a little tweaking of your methods, you’ll be rooting tree cuttings like a pro in no time. Then you can enjoy an endless supply of free saplings from your own propagation efforts!

Best Species for Beginner Propagators

If you’re just getting started with propagating trees from cuttings, stick to these easy species first:

• Willow – Roots quickest (1-2 weeks) from spring cuttings even without rooting hormones.

• Elderberry – Takes softwood cuttings in summer. Requires minimal care.

• Poplar – Hardwood cuttings root readily when stuck into soil over winter.

• Dogwood – Softwood cuttings root in 4-8 weeks under a mist system. Prefers summer propagation.

• Mulberry – Easy to root softwood cuttings in early summer.

More Advanced Species to Try Later

Once you’ve mastered the basics, try propagating these trees that require a bit more skill and care:

• Oak – Strike semi-hardwood cuttings in fall and overwinter them in a cold frame. Slow but doable.

• Apple – Take mid-summer tip cuttings and root them under an intermittent mist system. Needs warm temperatures.

• Mango – Use vigorous shoots in spring. Wounding is optional. Keep them warm; roots emerge in 4-8 weeks.

• Rubber – Root tip cuttings in a 90-100% humidity environment. Bottom heat speeds rooting.

• Ginkgo – Take 3-4” softwood cuttings in June. Use rooting hormone. Maintain warmth and humidity.

Propagating trees from cuttings is an affordable, easy way to clone your favorite trees. Many species readily root from properly taken and cared for cuttings. Follow the basic guidelines above for taking, wounding, and rooting cuttings. With some practice, you’ll soon be generating saplings for a fraction of the cost of buying them from a nursery!