Ranunculus ficaria-Celandine Buttercup or Lesser Celandine

Propagating Ranunculus or buttercup Celandine is best divided in the fall when dormant, mark the spot to locate, because it grows by underground tubers and can be invasive if left to its own devices. They are deer resistant and tolerates summer heat but is not drought resistant. Blooms occur in March through June and varieties come in yellow, white or orange and the plant reaches a height of 2"-6" but will not take foot traffic. Normally the small blooms do not open before 9 A.M. and close after 5 P.M. and during rain showers. The plants leaves are purple-black and are a good contrasting plant to have along borders and are native to Europe and Asia.

Achillea-Yarrow

Propagating Achillea or Yarrow is one of the easiest plants to divide either in the spring or fall. It spreads by rhizomes. It prefers hot dry and sunny locations and too much fertilizer will make it leggy and reaches a height of 18"-24". It blooms from May to frost and colors can vary from yellow, white, pink and red. It is one of the perennials when dried that will retain its true color. It blooms are fragrant and butterflies enjoy their nectar and deer do not. Deadhead spent blooms for more color and Yarrow is native to Europe and Asia.

Alyssum serpyllifolium-Alpine Alyssum or Madwort

Couldn’t find much on Alpine Alyssum for propagating but since it grows in a mound shape and will self seed if the soil is well drained, I believe digging it up in the fall and splitting the crown with a sharpe knife and then transplanting you should be safe. Also you can collect the seeds after the seed heads dry. It has thyme like leaves, silver, and it blooms are yellow, flowering in May/June and prefers a gravely soil that is well drained. It reaches a height of 2"-4", is said to be deer resistant, prefers full sun, is drought resistant when established, is evergreen and is native of the Iberian peninsula.

Cardiocrinum giganteum-Giant Himalayan Lily

Propagating Cardiocrinum or Himalayan Lily is done after it flowers, the plant dies, which takes place three years after planting the bulb or seven years after planting the seed, if they germinate, by digging up the parent bulb and separating the side bulbs from the dead parent and transplant so that the nose of the new bulb is planted sticking above the surface. It is important that after the flower dies that the seed heads are cut off so energy is given to the side bulbs. It is important when planting to dig a cubic yard of soil out and fill it back in with compost and manure because it needs a moist shaded woodland effect. It blooms in June/July and it has fragrant trumpet flowers, similar to the Easter Lily, that can rise as tall as 10'. Obviously it is from the Himalayas and one must be careful of slugs which raise havoc. This is a perennial that needs care initially giving it plenty of organic fertilizer but if you cannot wait three years for it to bloom don’t bother.

Stevia rebaudiana-Sweetleaf

Propagating Stevia or Sweetleaf by seed is slow, cutting are generally faster and dividing in the spring can be a challenge since the plant must be dug up and the roots divided with a sharp knife, its roots are surface shallow like azaleas, if there are ample stems and could possibly self seed. Sweetleaf is a herb that is only a perennial is Zone 9-11, it is an annual if the temperature goes below 32 degrees. It is a native of Paraguay and prefers a sandy acidic soil in full sun but needs moisture. The leaves should be harvested in the fall and dried like oregano. They say Stevia is 300 times sweeter then sugar but it was banned in the U.S. in the 1990's unless labeled as a supplement. It has white flowers.

Paeonia-Peony

Propagating Paeonia or Peony can be difficult because the crown or eyes are almost woody and brittle like so a person needs a sharp instrument to cut the crown in the fall. Transplanting the eye should be planted no deeper then two inches otherwise it will not bloom. It is a native to China and as many know they come in single and double blooms which are fragrant and the plant itself is deer resistant. It is deciduous and upwards of 1500 varieties and for those who are interested there is the American Peony Society. Peony’s bloom late spring to early summer and come in colors ranging from white, pink, red, yellow and orange, there are no blue varieties and plants can reach upwards of 5'. They need to be planted in full sun but are not drought resistant and the dead leaves need to be cleaned up in the fall to prevent disease.

Heliotropium arborsecens-Heliotrope, Cherry Pie

For those living in Zones 9-11, lucky you, propagating Heliotrope can be done either by layering or by soft tip cuttings in the spring. Heliotrope is a evergreen soft wooded sub-shrub, or a sturdy perennial that is great as a container plant, without afternoon sun exposure. It needs moisture, it will not withstand drought. There are many varieties of heliotrope but this variety comes in white, violet or purple and blooms midsummer, July through to frost. It is fragrant, the scent of cherry pie, butterflies love the nectar, it reaches a height of 12"18," and is a native of Peru. If you have room for winter storage this is a great container plant for colder zones.

Rosa Caramba-Groundcover Rose

Since Rosa Caramba or Groundcover Rose is a patented hybrid tea woody plant so for home use layering or cuttings would be the best avenue. Cuttings in the fall are best. Plants prefer full sun and grow to a height of upwards of 24". The blooms are salmon-orange with yellow centers, are fragrant and prefer full sun. They will bloom from June through to frost and because they flower on new growth pruning will stimulate blossoms.

Androsace sarmentosa-Rock Jasmine

Propagating Androsace or Rock Jasmine can be done either in the spring or fall by digging up the rooted rhizomes that trail away from the parent and transplanting into a sandy/gritty composted well draining soil. It fills in the crevices in rock walls just fine. It’s blooms are fragrant and various species come in white, pink or lilac and this variety flowers in May-June. It is evergreen, deer may munch, it reaches a height of 4"5", and is semi-drought tolerant in full sun or partial shade, but in warmer zones no afternoon sun.