Propagation of Four Underused Native Species from Softwood Cuttings

Interest in native plants for landscaping is increasing and nursery growers must expand their product offerings by adding new native species. Softwood stem cutting propagation of four underused northeastern U.S. native species [Ceanothus americanus (L.), Corylus cornuta (Marsh.), Lonicera canadensis (Bartr.), Viburnum acerifolium (L.)] was studied. V. acerifolium cuttings containing two nodes taken mid-June to mid-August rooted at nearly 100% with at least 15 roots per cutting. Exogenous auxin application did not enhance rooting of two-node V. acerifolium cuttings. Single-node V. acerifolium cutting success and quality of rooting increased with increasing concentration of auxin applied and reached a maximum of 80% rooting, whereas untreated cuttings only rooted at 53%. C. cornuta cuttings taken mid-June to mid-August rooted at greater than 85%. Hormone concentration did not affect rooting percentage for C. cornuta; however, cuttings treated with 3000 and 8000 ppm indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) had more and longer roots than untreated cuttings. June was the optimal time to collect cuttings of C. americanus (57% rooting) and L. canadensis (49% rooting), and rooting hormone did not significantly impact propagation success. C. cornuta and V. acerifolium could be propagated at a level necessary for consideration as a new commercial crop by general wholesale nurseries looking to add select native shrubs to their product lines. All four species evaluated could be viable commercial crops for nurseries that specialize in native plants.