Sedum-Stonecrop

Propagating the succulent Sedum or Stonecrop can be done by division, either spring or fall, by digging up the plant and dividing the crown and separating the plant with a good root system for each transplant or taking the blossom rosettes out in the spring when pruning and burying them in a well drained soil. Sedum prefers full sun, is deer resistant, attracts butterflies, honeybees but some varieties don’t bloom until the fall and the rest in the spring, and varieties can range in height from 6”-24”. Their flowers can be pink/mauve or yellow, but it is the variegated, blood or black colored leaves that make them stand out in the garden where they need little attention, love humidity, and are evergreen. Sedum tend to become leggy when not cut back in June.

Sempervivum-Hens and Chicks

Propagating Sempervivum or Hens and Chicks is probably the easiest of all perennials. The Chicks grow from the Hens, but not in soil with wet feet, the leaves will rot, so when the off shoots send down roots transplant. They prefer a rocky or gravely soil in full sun or partial shade. They will flower on plants in 3 to 4 years in the fall but then the plant dies. The blooms range from pink to yellow plus there are varieties that seem to have cobwebs growing over the top and leaves that can range in color from lime green to purple/burgundy and only grow to a maximum height of 3”, but will not endure foot traffic, and are deer resistant.

Pachysandra terminalis-Japanese Spurge

Propagating Pachysandra can be done either in the spring or fall by dividing the clumps and transplanting. Pachysandra prefers a slightly acidic soil and will do well in poor soil but prefers a fertile soil and will yellow if exposed to too much sun, so it prefers shade. Its flower is white and insignificant in the spring but do not plant near Euonymous because it is susceptible to Euonymous scale and voles/moles tunneling through the soil damaging the roots. It reaches a height of 12", is deer resistant, and is evergreen.

Zauschneria(Zosh-neer-ee-uh)-California Fuchsia

Propagating Zauschneria or California Fushsia depends who you ask or what variety you chose. Some Zauschneria varieties produce underground rhizomes that can be dug up and transplanted, most say to start from seed or cuttings, but you can also divide to roots or you can layer, it will self seed as well, but the plant must receive afternoon sun to keep the soil moist in that instance. Zauschneria blooms from July to September and the flowers can range from pink to orange to red. It is a plant that attracts both hummingbirds and butterflies but not deer. It does not like wet feet in the winter and is drought tolerant once established but slugs could poise a problem. In warmer climates it is evergreen and is healthy down to Zone 3. It can become rangy in winter so pruning back in the spring will help its appearance.

Tiarella-Foamflower

Propagating Tiarella or Foamflower can be accomplished either in the spring or fall and it is the simplest of division processes, dig up rooted the stolons and transplant. Foamflower is a cousin of Coral Bells however to proliferate it prefers an acidic rich moist sol in light shade. It is evergreen in warmer zones and blooms from May-June, there are variegated leafed varieties, blooms that are either pink or white, some varieties can reach a height of 30", and is deer resistant.

Silene acaulis-Moss Campion

Some will say the best way to propagate Silene or Moss Campion is by seed but those of you that propagate Phlox subulata should be able to dig up this dwarf perennial in the spring and divide the roots and transplant. One good thing about this groundcover is the Zones it is hardy in from 2-9 and is evergreen, however it does best in a moist gravely soil, is not drought tolerant, prefers cool summers, will take light foot traffic, and is deer resistant, so New England it is. The tiny pink flowers will bloom from May to July and trimming back after flowering will make the plant more dense and its reaches a height of only 1".

Scabiosa-Pincushion Flower

Propagating Scabiosa or Pincushion Flower is accomplished in the spring by digging up the parent plant and separating two-three well rooted stems and transplant. Be careful when purchasing Scabiosa initially to make certain you are purchasing a perennial not an annual. Some varieties must be staked because they will reach upwards of 3', and most are deciduous but there are evergreen varieties as well. Scabiosa is appreciated in the garden because with deadheading it will bloom from spring until fall or if left it can be a great self seeder in a well drained alkaline soil in full sun to partial shade. Blooming varieties vary from blue, white, pink, burgundy, yellow, and violet. It tends to be deer resistant, is attractive to both hummingbirds and butterflies.

Corydalis-Corydalis

Propagating Corydalis should be done in early spring/late winter because this is one perennial that will bloom from spring, March/April, until early fall, but only in cooler climates, Zone 5, otherwise in warmer zones it has a tendency to go dormant in mid summer and may or may not sprout again in the fall. In warmer zones I suggest that you plant in an area that does not get afternoon sun and that is susceptible to wind for a longer blooming period and since it does not appreciate summer drought make certain the soil is a heavy rich mixture and not sand nor gravel. Corydalis will reach a height of up to 12" and variety colors range from purple, chocolate, pink, yellow, white, red, blue, tends to be deer resistant, is evergreen and fragrant.

Cymbalaria-Kenilworth Ivy

Propagating Cymbalaria or Kenilworth Ivy can be done either in the spring or fall by digging up the rhizomes that have rooted away from the parent plant. Kenilworth Ivy prefers cool summers but is evergreen in mild winters. Blooms are bluish tints, either light or dark, and pink, flowers from spring-summer and prefers afternoon sun especially in warmer zones, and can be walked on lightly so it is a good filler for flagstone walkways since it only reaches 2" in height.

Passiflora incarnata-Maypop Passion Flower

Passiflora or Passion Flower isn’t really a perennial, more like a climbing woody plant, but it can be propagated by cutting or by digging up the suckers that form around the base of the parent plant in the spring in warmer climates, southeast, it is deciduous and dies or can be back to the ground after frost. It blooms from August through September with various colors, purple, yellow-orange, pink, red, blue, and white. It can be used to screen unsightly areas with a trellis and butterflies are attracted to its blooms and is one of the few plants that prefers poor but well draining soil in full or partial sun.

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