Agave virginica-Aloe

Propagating Agave virginica or Aloe can be propagated either in the spring or fall depending on the process used because the plant spreads by rhizomes and produces “pups” or the flower stalk produces bulbils that can be planted in the ground after flowering. It completely dies back to the ground in winter, hardy down to Zone 6, prefers an alkaline sandy/rocky moist soil and drought/heat tolerant. Its flower spikes are fragrant in June/July and can reach a height of 48" but the plant itself reaches a height of 12"-15" and the bloom color is yellow or green, but other varieties offer variegated or spotted leaves and a different bloom range such as the Blue Agave which is used to make Tequila.

Hierochloe odorata-Sweet Grass

Propagating Hierochloe odorata or Sweet Grass can be done in the spring either by locating new stolon growth or digging up the parent plant and dividing. This plant is widely used in Native American ceremonies and prefers a moist but sunny location and in some areas it is labeled as invasive, but is used to stabilize banks. Its blooms are insignificant but it leaves serve many purposes one of which when dried it is used as incense or another when soaked in water it can be used to treat windburn or chapping and when sown together with the stitches treated with flax it becomes water resistant. The leaves give off a scent of fresh mown hay or vanilla, reach a height of 10"-20" and is deer resistant.

Centaurea hypoleuca-Cornflower

Propagating Centaurea hypoleuca or Cornflower is done in the fall after the plant finishing blooming by digging up and separating into how many viable transplants you believe will take root and spread by stolons so be on the look out for plants that crop up at a distance Cornflower is a member of the Aster family so it blooms from early summer to early fall in colors that are pink to mauve/lilac, needs full sun and depending on the location may need staking as they reach a height of 20"-24". The plant is deciduous, deer resistant, do not like wet feet, and its blooms tend to be fragrant and are excellent for cutting.

Teucrium hircanicum-Iranian Wood Sage

Propagation of Teucrium or Iranian Wood Sage is accomplished in the early spring by digging up the root ball and dividing. Iranian Wood Sage leaves are fragrant and smell like Sage and it blooms from late summer to early fall, either pink or reddish purple in color, which attract butterflies and honeybees, but not deer. It grows to a height of 18"-24", is deciduous, hardy down to Zone 5 and does best in full sun, except for new transplants.

Sporobolus heterolepis-Prairie Dropseed

Propagating Sporobolus or Prairie Dropseed is difficult and should be done after cutting back the grass in the spring. It’s tough to propagate because of its deep fibrous root system and you should at least break off a clump that is more then 2" in diameter and if you are successful it will take up to 5 years to mature however it will not flatten under heavy snow cover like most other grasses which is why it is preferred by some for winter effect. It prefers a sandy soil and is drought resistant when mature, white flowers in August/September, the fragrant scent can be compared to cilantro or burnt popcorn and reaches a height of 30". Its fine leaves have an orange glow in the fall, age to copper or tan in the winter and is deer resistant.

Lilium-Trumpet Lily

Propagating Trumpet Lilies takes patience, but should be divided every 3-4 years by digging up the clump in the fall, because bulblets form after a growing season. If you notice grass growing next to the stem in the spring that is an indication bulblets are forming so make a mental note to divide in the fall. After digging up the clump do not remove the bulblets from the stem, but cut the stem down to ground level and transplant. It will take two years for the new transplants to have more then one bloom per stem. They bloom in July and come in a range of colors from white, yellow, orange, red, purple, and pink. The fragrant flower heads can reach a height of upwards of 70" so make certain they are planted in a protected area in either full sun or partial shade, attract hummingbirds and is deciduous.

Euphorbia nicaeensis-Honey-flowered Spurge

Propagating Euphorbia nicaeensis or Honey-flowered Spurge is done in the spring by digging up the clump and dividing the crown then transplanting, but give it some shade then move to the sun after it becomes established in the fall. There are many varieties of Euphorbia but this one prefers a hot sunny location, others prefer moisture. Its leaves are tinted blue and its blooms are fragrant, bloom late summer to early fall, reach a height of 18"-23," and are good as cut flowers. This variety is evergreen, deer resistant, and is hardy to Zone 6. Trim back the plant in the spring to freshen up the plant.

Myrrhis odorata-Sweet Cicely

Propagating Myrrhis or Sweet Cicely should be attempted in the spring or fall by digging up the clump and dividing the into transplants with ample root systems. Sweet Cicely gets its name because its fernlike leaves give off a strong aroma that smalls like sweet licorice and blooms in May/June with large umbels of white flowers. It prefers a moist soil in either full sun or partial shade, is deer resistant, reaches a height of 36"-48" and is deciduous.

Melissa officinalis-Lemon Balm

Propagating Melissa officinalis or Lemon Balm is done in the spring by digging up the plant and dividing the crown or it is a good self seeder.. The blooms are insignificant in the summer, but are lilac in color however the plants gives off a lemony scent but can be used as insect repellant by rubbing the leaves on your body. The plants by mid summer can become raged so prune back to induce new growth and is an evergreen in warmer climates. Lemon Balm is deer resistant however it should not be planted where it gets the force of the afternoon sun because the plant will become scorched and it reaches a height of 12"-24". Honeybees will enjoy the nectar.

Heucherella-Foamy Bells

Propagating the hybrid Heucherella or Foamy Bells is done by division in either the spring or fall or by digging up the plantlets that shoot out from the parent plant. This is a plant that will not take hot humid weather and needs deep winter mulching in colder zones. It is a cross between Coral Bells and Foam Flower and isn’t as hardy as it two parent plants, however it does have the striking leaf colors of Coral Bells and the bloom of the Foam Flower. Make certain that you plant it in a deep compost rich soil in the shade or else an area that gets morning sun otherwise it will burn. It is evergreen in warmer zones, flowers in the spring, and varieties come in either white or pink blooms. It is deer resistant and needs feeding in the spring and mid summer with bone meal. It is a good companion for Hosta, Fern, Astilbes and Coral Bells, needs to be cleaned up in the spring by removing dried leaves and reaches a height of 12"-18".

Juncus effusus-Spiral Rush

Juncus or Spiral Rush can be best propagated in the spring by digging up the sub plants from its rhizomous spread and for this reason it is best to plant in containers, 1"-6" deep in the water, if you don’t want it to spread. It prefers a moist acidic soil, along stream beds or in bog like conditions and its branches are contorted and are used in arrangements. It might be a challenge to use this variety in basket weaving. It is evergreen in milder climates and should be cut back to the ground in the spring to induce new growth, its blooms are insignificant, reaches a height of just under 3' and will do well in either full sun or partial shade

Rubus pentalobus- Creeping Raspberry

Rubus or Creeping Raspberry can be propagated by layering in the spring, it is protected by royalties or by seed. There are many varieties of Rubus so their blooms can range from pink, white, red or purple, but pentalobus blooms are white. It is hardy in Zones 7-9, is an evergreen, deer resistant and some stems tend to be thorny. One aspect is its red fall color, which will persist through the winter. It blooms in late spring/early summer, bears an edible orange fruit, reaches a height of 4"-6", is drought tolerant and will grow in either full sun or light shade.

Perilla frutescens-Beefsteak Plant

There is only way to propagate Perilla of Beefsteak and that is by seed if you live in the Zones where they are annuals, but perennial in Zone 8-10, but not frost tolerant and in these zones you can take tip cuttings. Chill seeds at 40 degrees for 3 days in moist sand and plant in 70 degree heat and will germinate in 1-2 weeks. They are extremely fast growers reaching 2'-3' in height and are deer resistant. Some of the varieties leaves remind one of coleus, but they are either burgundy or green, flowers late summer to early fall, and blooms can range from pink, lavender and white. What is interesting about this plant is that it is used as a food staple in Oriental countries and read that India was figuring how to farm it, because if you do not deadhead it becomes extremely invasive, PA has it on their invasive list. Young leaves and seedlings are eaten cooked or raw. Older leaves are used for garnish or salted and used as a condiment for tofu. Yuck! Older flowers are fried and eaten. The plant also yields essential oil which is used as flavoring in candy and sauces. The flavor is supposedly strange to Western palates ranging from cinnamon to citrus flavor. It will thrive in a poor soil but does not take extended periods of drought and will do well either in full sun to partial shade. Another useful aspect are the leaves that can be used in the compost pile as green manure.