Hardly any group of plants offers you as many possibilities of propagation as perennials. From sowing to division - we describe common methods and provide you with practical tips.
Propagation via seeds takes a long time, but is nice to look at
Propagating perennials by seed
First of all, perennials can be propagated by seeds. Most species are cold germs - this means they need a long-lasting cold stimulus before germinating. Only a few perennials germinate immediately. These plants include yellow loosestrife and multicolored spurge, among others.
Practical tip: It is best to collect more sensitive seeds such as those of false poppies or lupins, which do not find good germination conditions in the garden, after flowering and pre-cultivate them in the greenhouse.
Exciting: When propagating perennials from seeds, you can sometimes expect a small (or big) surprise. Plants can also develop that differ considerably from the mother plant in terms of essential characteristics such as flower color or shape.
Note: Keep in mind that some perennials are cultivated in such a way that they do not produce fruit. In this case, logically, there is no seed either. There are also varieties (especially those with double flowers or sometimes hybrids) that are sterile. They do have seeds, but not germinable ones.
Propagating perennials over other plant parts
If propagation from seeds is not possible or you prefer an alternative method, there are still plenty of options to choose from. You can propagate perennials just as well or often even better with other parts of the plant such as leaves, shoots or roots.
Advantages of vegetative propagation over seed
Significant benefits are associated with vegetative propagation:
- New perennials from cuttings or cuttings are always exact copies of the mother plant. This is because the genetic material is completely identical. It can also be said that with these methods you simply clone the mother plant.
- Vegetatively propagated perennials often have a small growth advantage over seed-propagated plants. That means they develop a little faster, so you'll see results sooner.
Recommendation: Dividing perennials is a particularly efficient method of propagation. In this way you keep the plants flowering for a long time and ensure that they remain vigorous.
tips
Very important: Always propagate only healthy plants!