How Are Roses Propagated?

Rose cuttings root best when they are taken immediately after the flowers fade.

Roses root easily from cuttings, the method of propagation used by most home gardeners. Professional rose growers use budding and grafting techniques to produce new rose bushes.

Own-Root Roses

Roses propagated from cuttings are called own-root roses because they grow on their own roots and are not grafted onto root stock. Own-root roses take longer to establish, and they are not as hardy, vigorous or disease resistant as grafted roses.

Cuttings

Use 6- to 8-inch cuttings from the ends of stems that have recently bloomed. Remove the foliage from the lower half of the cutting, and stick the lower half into a pot filled with rooting medium. Water well, and cover the pot with a plastic bag to raise the humidity around the plant. Remove the bag when the stem grows roots.

Grafting and Budding

Most professionals propagate roses by grafting and budding. This process requires skill and training and isn't practical for the casual rose grower. The process involves grafting a portion of a rose bush onto the root stock of a sturdy type of rose. If done correctly, the result is a rose with the physical attributes of the rose bush you are propagating and the vigor, hardiness and disease resistance of the root stock.

References

• Texas A&M AgriLife Extension: Rose Propagation from Cuttings
• University of California Cooperative Extension: Propagating Roses by Cuttings
• National Gardening Association: Rose Cuttings
• University of Florida IFAS Extension: Propagation of Woody Ornamentals by Grafting or Budding