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Species Descriptions and Propagation Techniques

The following information describes riparian woody plant species, their typical habitat, greenhouse propagation methods, and field propagation methods. Greenhouse propagation methods are procedures that can be used to produce bareroot or containerized plants. These procedures generally require greenhouse space, greenhouse equipment and supplies, some greenhouse propagation skill, and adequate time to grow the plants before transferring to your project location. Field propagation methods are procedures for planting unrooted dormant hardwood cuttings, literally branch or stems, into the various riparian planting zones. Unrooted cuttings are easy to plant, inexpensive, easy to collect, and capable of being planted deep enough to reach the low water level of the year. They can withstand high water velocities associated with seasonal out of bank flows. Not all woody plant species can be propagated from unrooted cuttings. Unrooted cuttings will have a lower survival rate, but are less expensive when compared to bareroot or containerized stock.

Dormant unrooted hardwood cuttings can be taken after leaf fall and before bud burst in the spring. The best rooting success is from cuttings that are 2 to 10 years old. The cutting diameter should be as large as possible depending upon species. The best diameters are 1.9 to 7.6 centimeters (0.75 to 3 inches). The cutting should be long enough to reach 20 to 30 cm (8 to 12 inches) into the lowest water level of the year. The top 2 feet of the cutting should be removed to provide higher energy to the auxiliary buds, i.e. root buds. All side branches should be removed to ensure that the stored energy is not expended to supporting branches or reproductive materials, but rather to grow roots. Willows have root primordia up and down the entire stem so roots will grow not only at the nodes, but also out of the internodes. Cuttings should be soaked in water long enough (commonly 5 to 7 days) to allow the buds to swell. Do not allow the roots to emerge from the bark. Hormone applications are not necessary for large volume plantings. Hormones may be used and valuable for cuttings older than 10 to 12 years or cuttings that have thick rough bark.

NOTE: Many of these species are commercially available as potted or bare root stock and may be purchased for transplant.

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Last Modified: 07/05/2007