April is Prime Time to Multiply These 6 Classic Border Beauties – Take Cuttings Now to Fill Your Yard with Free Flowers

Most beginner gardeners hesitate at the mere thought of cutting their plants, viewing their favorites as delicate beauties. But what if I told you that making a calculated cut is actually a sneaky win? Certain spring cuttings are the ultimate boost for borders – with the promise of fast-tracking new growth, bringing extra beauty to your growing spaces, and saving you a packet in the process. Talk about high reward!

Being able to fast-track growing plants to maturity is an underrated win for border beauties. Taking these plant cuttings in April, these border clones will take root and reach flowering size significantly faster than any seed ever could. April is the perfect time for this garden heist. As the soil warms and the first flush of spring energy surges through the roots, these plants are practically begging to be multiplied. So why not claim the free flowers your borders deserve?

Cutting the “bottoms and toes” of key border plants means you can potentially double your plant count without spending more on plugs and seeds. By targeting the fresh basal shoots (the bottoms) or the vigorous root fragments (the toes), you are catching your plant at its most regenerative phase. It’s the perfect way to turn a few expensive nursery finds into a drifting colony of color.

You can quickly propagate these 6 plants by their bottoms or toes. Take the basal cuttings from new growth that will be quick to root, and specific root cuttings flush with nutrients and primed to grow into new plants. It couldn’t be simpler, so why not give it a try? Learn the easy way to multiply your border flowers this spring, because the best things in life really can be free.

Why These Cuttings Work So Well

Growing from seed is satisfying and rewarding, but let’s be honest, it can be a test of patience. Between the stratification, the damp-off risks, and the agonizing wait for that first bloom (which can take years for some perennials), seeds can feel like a full-time job. Cutting plant propagation, specifically the basal and root methods we’re focusing on here, can be a real shortcut to spectacular borders. Because these cuttings are taken from established, mature plants, they carry the memory of adulthood. This means they spend less time growing up and more time growing out, often resulting in flowers in the very first season. Yes, you read that right!

We are focusing on easy perennials here. These sturdy, reliable border plants will thrive in a range of USDA zones. Unlike annuals that burn out in a season, these plants are long-term investments. Several of these perennial cuttings allow you to capitalize on basal growth. This is those chunky, solid new shoots that emerge from the crown. These shoots are packed with auxins (natural growth hormones) that are primed to trigger root development the moment they touch the soil. It’s a low-risk, high-reward strategy: even if a cutting doesn't take, the parent plant is usually so vigorous in spring that it will simply grow another shoot to replace it.

To grow these cuttings, you just need some well-draining potting mix, consistent moisture, and a bit of insider timing. A nice choice for basal and root cuttings is Rosy Soil Cactus and Succulent Organic Potting Soil Mix, available from Amazon, which offers excellent drainage and aeration. For most of the US, April offers that perfect balance of rising temperatures and high humidity that keeps cuttings from wilting before they root. So let’s get into growing our free flowers, with 6 of the easiest plants to propagate from cuttings now for speedy extra plants!

1. Delphiniums

When it comes to classics, delphiniums are the undisputed royalty of the cottage garden, and they offer that soaring vertical drama every border and fence line needs, often reaching six feet (1.8m) in height. These short-term perennials (often surviving 3-5 years) can be expensive to replace, which makes propagation essential for keeping your flowering display constant.

While many gardeners try to grow these multi-hued charmers from seed, you'll often end up with muddy, off-type colors. While delphiniums do reseed, you can get more growth more quickly with basal cuttings. These also give you an exact genetic clone of that perfect sky-blue or deep-purple spike you love. When you see new shoots about 3 inches (8cm) tall and solid, this is your cue to snip. If the stem is hollow in the center, it’s too late and the cutting likely won't root. Use a sharp, sterilized knife to slice the shoot from the crown, taking a tiny heel of the woody base with it.

This heel contains concentrated rooting cells, but you can dip the cutting in rooting hormone, such as Hormex Rooting Powder No3 from Walmart for an added boost. Expect roots to form in 3-4 weeks. Keep them out of direct afternoon sun during this period. For best results in zones 3-7, keep your pots in a sheltered cold frame or a bright windowsill.

2. Lupines

Lupines (aka bluebonnets) are the vibrant, spire-shaped stars of the spring border. They are beloved for their native aesthetic and vivid purple-blues. However, they have a deep taproot, which means they hate being moved once established. This makes taking basal cuttings the most effective way to spread lupines around your garden without killing the parent plant. They grow quickly, so the cuttings you take will soon give you new plants to fill in empty spaces along your borders.

Look for the pups at the base of the plant in early April. You want shoots that have just unfurled their first set of signature palm leaves. Because lupines are prone to rot if kept too soggy, use a gritty compost mix or add some perlite, such as Sta-Green Organic Perlite from Lowe’s, to assist with drainage. If you’re in a warmer zone (8-9), ensure you take your cuttings before May, as lupines prefer the cool moisture of early spring for rooting. Be sure to take a cutting of new growth and part of the crown to replant. Continue to do this every few years for continuous lupine blooms.

3. Garden Phlox

Garden phlox (Phlox paniculata) is the scent of summer and a popular addition to colorful borders. These native perennials can reach 4 feet (1.2 m) tall, topped with enchanting mops of purple, pink, white, red, and salmon flowers. These pretty clusters of small flowers bloom in summer and attract beneficial pollinators. But while they are easy-going, they are prone to powdery mildew. By taking cuttings from your healthiest clumps, you can ensure your future plants are as robust as parents.

Phlox is generous, so you can take a 3-inch (8cm) basal cutting in April, and it will often grow fast enough to produce a small flower head by August of the same year. To ensure success, remove the lower leaves of the cutting so you have a clean stem to insert into the soil. Once rooted and growing new leaves, give your phlox a boost with a little diluted Miracle-Gro Water Soluble Plant Food, available from Amazon.

Don’t be afraid to pinch the top of the cutting once it starts growing to encourage a bushier, multi-stemmed plant. If you have a favorite heirloom variety that you can't find anymore, spring basal cuttings are the ultimate insurance policy for phlox. Propagate two or three backups every April to keep the line going.

4. Oriental Poppies

Now we’re trying toe cuttings (in other words, stealing from the roots). Oriental poppies are famous for their crepe-paper blooms on sturdy stems as tall as three feet (0.9m). They are also famous for disappearing (going dormant) in the heat of summer. This means April (while they are in active, leafy growth) is a great time to find the roots and take your toes.

Root cuttings can feel like performing magic, truly. You're looking for a pencil-thick piece of root to grow. Gently move some soil from the side of the parent plant clump, and snip or slice a 3-inch (8cm) section of root. A hori-hori knife can be useful for clean slicing. If you don’t have one, and want something you can’t lose in the soil, try the Pink Hori-Hori Knife from Burpee. Just remember to bury the parent root again.

To help you keep track of which end is up on your root cutting, use a slanted cut at the bottom and a straight cut at the top. Root cuttings take a bit longer than basal cuttings. You might not see green shoots for 6-8 weeks, and you likely won't get flowers until next year. However, the resulting plant will be much stronger and more drought-tolerant than poppies grown from seed.

5. Chrysanthemums

The hardy mum is often grown as a cool-season annual, but with the right care it is a perennial marvel. Even tiny flowering stalks can root in water with the right encouragement. Chrysanthemums grow vigorously and beautifully as perennial border plants. So if you have a clump that survived the winter, April is the time to turn that one mound into a dozen. Basal cuttings are the best way to multiply your mums because these plants root super fast, sometimes in as little as 10 days.

If you let mums grow naturally, they get leggy and flop over. By taking basal cuttings in April, you’re pruning the parent plant to be more compact while creating vigorous offspring. Aim for shoots 2-4 inches (2.5-5cm) long. If you take cuttings early enough in April, you will have full-sized blooming mounds by October. No, really! It’s a great way of safeguarding some late summer and fall color as other flowers begin to fade.

In northern USDA zones (4-6), keep cuttings indoors or in a greenhouse until the risk of frost has passed. In the south, you can often pot them up and leave them in a shady spot outdoors. Use a seedling heat mat to encourage lightning-fast rooting in chilly Aprils. You can buy Heat Mats from Burpee to accelerate healthy root development.

6. Sea Holly

Sea holly (Eryngium) is a bit like the cool kid of the pack and something of an anomaly (but a beautiful one) in a border, with its metallic blue, thistle-like bracts. However, this particular border beauty has a long taproot (or big toe, as it were), which makes it very drought-tolerant but difficult to divide in the traditional way. And growing from seed is tricky and hit-or-miss. Root cuttings are a simple and reliable way to propagate this plant without disturbing the main taproot. You probably won’t get flowers this year, but you will be boosting your border for the long run.

Similar to poppies, you want to find a lateral root (a side root) rather than cutting the main central taproot. The best part? Even a tiny inch (2.5cm) fragment of sea holly root can regenerate into a full plant. Lay these toes horizontally in a tray of sandy compost and cover with a thin layer of grit. Sea holly roots are prone to rotting if kept too wet, though, so use a soil meter like the XLUX Long Probe from Amazon to ensure you aren't overwatering sensitive toes. Use a hands-off approach once they are potted. Place them in a cold frame, and you can forget about them until you see the first silvery-green leaves emerge.

Shop Cutting Essentials

Ready to make the cut? Take your bottoms and toes from vulnerable snips to sturdy border staples with some dedicated kit to nurture and protect new clones. These key propagation essentials will give your basal and root cuttings the edge, and best of all they won’t break the bank.

How to Make Your Cuttings

Making that first cut might feel stressful, but the rewards are significant, whether you’re working with the plant’s bottoms or toes! For basal cuttings, the goal is to get solid growth. If the stem feels like a straw, move to a younger shoot. You need strong, fresh shoots emerging from the base of the plant. Cut as close to the plant crown as possible, and include that little heel (piece of the crown) if you can to help the cutting root faster. Once removed, remove the bottom 50% of foliage before placing in moist potting mix. Removing leaves will reduce the workload for the stem, allowing it to focus all its energy on growing roots rather than foliage.

For root cuttings, the key is orientation. If you are planting them vertically, the end that was closest to the plant (the top) must stay at the top. This is why the slant-cut method is so effective, with a straight cut on the top, and slanted on the bottom. If you’re nervous, just lay them horizontally in potting mix. The plant is smart enough to figure out which way is up! Cover with about half an inch (around 1cm) of gritty soil. Keep your cuttings watered and the soil or potting mix moist, and check on them regularly. Before long, you’ll see new growth to add to your garden.

Use a clear plastic humidity dome or even a simple Ziploc bag over your pots to create a mini-greenhouse effect. This keeps the air humid so the leaves don't wilt while the roots are still developing. Check them once a week. If you see new green growth, congratulations! You’ve just multiplied your border darlings for free.

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