Yearning for a Certain Kind of Rose? Learn to Grow It from Cuttings!
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Does a neighbor or friend have a rose bush you envy? Have you been seeking out a particular variety that you just can't find for sale, but it's growing nearby? Have you always loved Grandma's rose bushes, and would love to have a little piece in your own garden?
Perhaps it's time to try growing a rose from cuttings!
If the idea seems intimidating, don't let it be. Whether you tend roses bushes like a pro or you're just getting your garden started, we'll help you get the exact plant you want into the ground and turn it into a healthy rose bush that'll last for years, with our simple step-by-step instructions!
Tools You Need to Propagate Roses
Pruners to cut a piece from the bush you want to propagate
Rooting hormone to help speed up the process
Perlite, builder's sand, or a 50/50 mix of perlite and potting soil in a 2- to 4-inch pot with holes in the bottom
Plastic bag to tent over the cutting as it roots
How to Grow Roses from Cuttings in 10 Steps
Cut a 6- to 8-inch piece from a stem about the size of a pencil in thickness. Trim at a 45-degree angle. Take a few cuttings so you have a better chance at success.
Remove all the leaf clusters except one set at the top of the cutting.
Dip the end of the stem into rooting hormone, then poke it into a pot filled with your potting medium of choice. An alternate potting method is to root the cutting in a clear plastic bag filled with the potting medium—which can make it easier to tell if the roots are forming.
Cover the cutting loosely with a plastic bag. Use a couple of stakes or sticks to keep the bag from touching the leaves.
Place the plant in bright, indirect light, not direct sunlight, which may kill it.
Keep the potting medium slightly damp, but not soaking wet. Mist the soil instead of using a watering can, which can dislodge the cutting.
Be patient. It can take several weeks to a month to root. After a month, gently tug on the cutting. If it's rooted, you'll feel resistance.
If you don't have roots after about six weeks, start over.
Plant your new little rose in a pot, and gradually acclimate it to full sun so it doesn't get sun burned.
Plant the cutting in the garden. The fall is the best time for transplanting because the temperatures are not as harsh, and rainfall generally is more plentiful. The plant also will put more energy into growing a strong root system than pushing out top growth.
When Is the Best Time to Plant Rose Cuttings?
While you can take cuttings any time of year, many experts recommend doing it in spring or early to mid-summer, and then planting the cutting in the fall. Like garlic and many flowering bulbs, the young rose plant will do best if it goes in the ground at the end of the growing season, when it will develop deeper roots and not try to create leaves or flowers until the following spring.
Keep in mind, however, that roses taken from cuttings will take several years to mature into a nice-sized plant, so patience is key. In the meantime, make sure to water them during dry spells and keep the area weeded to avoid competition.
In addition, protect your baby rose bush from hungry garden visitors, such as deer and rabbits, which adore succulent new leaves. The most effective protection is fencing, such as a small piece of chicken wire around the new planting.
Can You Grow Roses from Commercial Cut Flowers?
Let's say you got a beautiful bouquet from a friend, and you'd like to try propagating one or more of the stems to see if you can turn it into a plant? Is it worth trying?
Sure! But don't expect a ton of success.
As you might expect, it will depend a lot on what kind of roses they are, how long ago they were cut, what's happened to them in the meantime, and whether you're even legally allowed to do it (See more on that, below!)
Many if not most commercially grown roses come from grafted bushes—where more beautiful but delicate varieties have been grafted onto heartier, more disease-resistant rootstock. When you get the cut rose, you're typically not getting the rootstock, meaning that while a commercial cut rose might root (if it's fresh enough and if it's been well cared for), it's also much less likely to be disease resistant. So even if you're able to successfully root the rose, it may not last long once in the ground.
On the other hand—if you're up for the project, and you've already got the cut roses, what do you have to lose by trying?
Can You Propagate Roses from Any Bush?
While propagation can work with pretty much any rose bush, there are some laws prohibiting you from propagating certain plants. Believe it or not, many new roses are patented, which means you cannot legally take a cutting and grow a new one—even for yourself or as a gift.
These type of patents typically last 20 years and exist to protect the time and money breeders put into creating a new variety. It typically takes 6 to 8 years or more to create a new plant.
How to tell if your rose plant is patented: Look at the plant tag or description. Many of the newer types of roses, such as Knock Outs, are sold under a specific name and are registered with the U.S. Patent Office. If you see a ™ (trademark) or ® (rights reserved) symbol, this indicates trademark registration and confers additional legal protection.
Now, will the plant police come after you if you propagate that rose? Probably not. But you should be aware that it is illegal to propagate a plant still under patent, and you do open yourself to a possible lawsuit by doing it.
Which Roses Are Best for Propagating?
You can take cuttings from any heirloom, heritage, or Old Garden rose you want in order to grow new plants—and we recommend that you do! Not only are those plants free of any patent concerns, but their very heirloom nature means that they're likely to be heartier and more likely to do well. Especially if you're taking cuttings from a bush that's been around for a while—like the roses Grandma's been growing for 50 years!
For the highest chance of success, try seeking out native roses for your area! These are the roses that will be most resistant to diseases and predators, and will be most tolerant of local climate conditions, of course!
Can You Root Roses in Potatoes?
Perhaps you've seen one of the many recent TikTok videos or YouTube videos that demonstrate a magical method of rooting roses using a potato. Some suggest simply putting the cutting into the potato. Others suggest adding rooting hormone, or even cinnamon or honey. Others are more complicated still.
Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to work. A peer-reviewed study from 2019 found that although the roses may sprout leaves, they had a hard time producing roots. We suggest using the tried-and-true methods for propagating roses and saving your spuds for cooking!
Can You Root Rose Cuttings in Just Water?
Another common internet suggestion is to propagate roses directly in water—hydroponically—without dirt. In our experience these roses again may sprout leaves but often have a harder time growing the roots that are necessary for them to become actual plants.
Peer reviewed studies have found that while it can be an effective method—possibly even preferential—at a commercial scale, the work involved in adding the right mix of nutrients into the water at the right time during the sprouting process, and keeping the plants healthy, is complex enough that we don't think it's really worth it for a home gardener.
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