How to Propagate Burning Bush From Cuttings

The burning bush, or Euonymus alatus, is a popular shrub known for its dense structure and fiery red fall foliage. Gardeners can add more of these plants to their landscapes through propagation, a process of creating new, identical plants from a single parent shrub.

Propagation Preparations

The timing of propagation depends on the type of cutting. For softwood cuttings, the ideal window is during late spring and early summer when the plant’s new growth is still flexible. You can test a stem by bending it; if it snaps cleanly, it is ready. Hardwood cuttings are taken from mature, dormant wood in the late fall or winter.

Before making any cuts, gathering the right materials is important. You will need a pair of sharp, sterilized pruning shears, small pots with drainage holes, a well-draining growing medium like perlite and peat moss, and a rooting hormone.

Step-by-Step Guide to Taking Cuttings

Select a healthy, vigorous stem from the parent plant that is free of disease or stress. Using your sterile shears, take a cutting that is between four and six inches long. Make the cut about an inch below a set of leaves, as this is where root-producing nodes are concentrated.

Prepare the cutting by carefully stripping the leaves from its lower half, ensuring at least two pairs of leaves remain at the top. If the remaining top leaves are large, you can cut them in half to reduce moisture loss. Dipping the cut end of the stem into a rooting hormone can encourage stronger root formation.

Use a pencil or a similar object to create a hole in your moist potting medium. This prevents the rooting hormone from being scraped off as you insert the cutting. Place the stem into the hole, about one and a half to two inches deep, and gently firm the soil around it.

Caring for New Cuttings

The soil should be kept consistently moist but never waterlogged, as excessive water can cause the cutting to rot. Check the soil daily and water as needed. A good practice is to water the parent shrub the night before taking cuttings to ensure the stems are well-hydrated.

Creating a humid atmosphere around the cutting can increase the success rate. You can achieve this by placing a clear plastic bag over the pot, which retains moisture. The pot should be placed in a location that receives bright, indirect sunlight, as direct sun can scorch the young plant.

After a few weeks, check if roots have formed with a gentle tug on the cutting. If you feel resistance, it means roots have developed. Once a solid root system is established, the plastic cover can be removed, and the new plant can be gradually acclimated to more direct light before being transplanted.

Important Environmental Considerations

While the burning bush is admired for its ornamental qualities, it is also an invasive species in many regions of North America. The plant can spread from gardens into natural areas, where it forms dense thickets that crowd out native vegetation and disrupt local ecosystems.

Because of its invasive nature, the cultivation of burning bush is regulated in some areas. Before you decide to plant or propagate this shrub, check with your local agricultural extension office or department of conservation. They can provide information on whether it is permissible to grow this species in your location and may offer non-invasive alternatives.