What southern plants grow best from cuttings?

Question

We live in Central Florida near, on the coast.

Answer 1

Wow, you can grow anything down there!! There are many that will root in water for you. Impatiens, New Guinnea Impatiens, verbena, Kalanchoe, gardenia, hibiscus, cyperus, rose of sharon, osteospermum, and lots more. These are just a few I have been successful with in SC.

happy gardening.....don'tcha just love dirt?

Answer 2

Another bold exotic flowering plant that is easily grown from cuttings is the Angel's Trumpet (Brugmansia species and hybrids). Cut an 8-12" long piece and stick it half way into an ordinary medium-sized soda cup from a fast food restaurant that is filled with water. In a couple of weeks, roots will grow. Once the roots start to form, plant it in a high-quality potting soil and keep the plant in a humid and shady spot that is out of the wind. You can ususally expect flowers the same season.

Answer 3

Forsythia
Azalea
Gardenia
Mock Orange
Lilac

I use a root hormone on my cuttings. If you have one bush or shrub or stalk/stem flower plant, you can have at least five more! The only way I've known to be able to have a big garden.

When we travel, I'm always taking cuttings off plants---depending on the time of year, of course---and then rooting them in sandy soil with root hormone.

Good luck!

Answer 4

Hibiscus should do well. Also try gingers, which grow well in Florida . The lush foliage and vibrant blossoms of gingers make ordinary gardens more dramatic and exotic. They do well in Florida's warm climate, but require lots of moisture and fertilizer during the growing season. Most do best in partial shade (up to 4 hours of morning sun), but some thrive in full sun, while still others prefer shade, thus allowing almost any homeowner to grow some type of ginger.

Many species are dormant during Florida's cooler, drier winter season, but their underground stems, or rhizomes, survive. Most can tolerate temperatures down into the 40s, and lower, with protection. Once temperatures warm up, lush foliage pushes its way up, eventually giving way to beautiful blossoms. Propagation is generally done by division of matted clumps. Gingers are relatively pest-free, with the exception of mites and occasionally nematodes in light, sandy soils.

Gingers span many plant families, including the following:

• Alpinias (Shell Ginger) — Perhaps the most popular, with plumes of white, red or pink flowers. Excellent for cutting and easy to grow, they thrive in sun and need lots of water. A.Garanga is the culinary spice cardamom. A.purpurata is also known as red torch ginger. A. zerumbet has pendant shell-like whitish-pink flowers, while A.zerumbet variegata sports yellow and green foliage, providing landscape interest and color throughout the year.

• Costus (Spiral Ginger) — While no longer technically included in the ginger family, they are generally included because of their similar growth requirements. Called "spiral-flag" gingers, they have true stems and spirallyarranged foliage. Their waxy flowers are brilliant bracts of red-orange, much like bromeliads, which often attract hummingbirds. Some grow up to 10 feet (C.speciosus), while others (C.igneous) reach only 12 inches.

• Curcumas (Asian Tulip) — Growing up to 4 feet with large showy cones of small flowers, Curcumas are not well-known but offer great color. C.elata has pale pink rose bracts on tall stems; C.roscoeana has papery orange bracts and blooms abundantly in semi-sun. They go dormant in the fall, and like dappled sun and moderate watering.

• Hedychium (Butterfly Ginger) — Also called Ginger-Lily, are perhaps the showiest of flowering gingers, with clusters of fragrant butterfly-shaped blooms atop long stems. They make large clusters, so space is needed. As canes bloom out, cut to encourage new growth. Hedychiums can tolerate more sun than other gingers, and bloom on new growth. H.coronarium has fragrant white flowers and is perhaps the most widely-grown. H. 'Kahili', sometimes called H.gardenerianum, blooms bright yellow.

• Kaempferias (Peacock Ginger) — Sometimes called Asian Crocus, these are low-growing plants with decorative, often variegated foliage with an iridescent sheen. Perfect as a ground cover, K.roscoeana has lavender flowers tinged with white. K.decora is also known as the Dwarf Ginger-Lily, making a nice display of canary yellow flowers. K.rotunda is sometimes called the Resurrection Lily, sporting fragrant flowers with lilac tips.

• Zingibers (Pine Cone Ginger) — Also called Pine Cone-Lily, Cone Ginger, or Soap Ginger, these need dappled sun and even moisture at the roots. Many species have large cones hidden among the foliage that release thick juice when squeezed. The edible ginger (Z.officinale) is part of this genus. Most species make great foliage plants. Z.spectabilis, growing to 6 feet, has red bracts and dark green leaves. Z.zerumbet is also called Shampoo Ginger. Z.zerumbet darcyi is a cousin with variegated foliage and tiny white flowers.

Best wishes!