Start Bowman's root from a spring or fall division, and keep a piece of the woody crown on each chunk. Seed is slower: sow it an eighth of an inch deep and give it a winter of cold.
Divide a clump in spring or fall
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| When | Spring as new shoots show, or fall after the clump has cooled | Do not rip the crown apart in a heat wave |
| Piece | A chunk of woody crown with roots and at least one shoot | Do not save a leafless scrap with no roots |
| Depth | Replant at the same depth the parent sat | Do not bury the crown or perch it high |
| Aftercare | Part shade, and keep the soil moist until new leaves hold | Do not set the new plants in open afternoon sun |
Bowman's root grows from a woody crown, so a home clump is usually started by division. Lift a piece in spring or fall and keep roots on the crown, because a shaken, bare scrap dries before it can take. [1] [2] Congested clumps also split well in those same windows. [3]
- Water the parent the day before. Dig around the clump and lift it with a spade.
- Cut the woody crown into pieces so each one has roots and at least one shoot. Do not tear it by hand if the wood will not split cleanly.
- Replant at the same depth, in part shade, in soil that drains. Water it in.
- Keep the new pieces moist until they hold new leaves. The plant is slow, so wait through the first season before you judge it a failure.
Can I divide an established clump?
Yes. Divide in spring as new shoots show, or in fall. Keep a piece of woody crown and roots on each chunk.
Sow seed an eighth of an inch deep, and give it winter cold
Ripe seed wants a cold, moist stretch before it sprouts. The simple method is to sow in a pot in fall or late winter, set the pot outdoors out of mouse reach, and wait for spring. You can also sow in moist mix, bag the pot, and keep it in a refrigerator for two to three months, then bring it into warmth. [4] Cover the seed about an eighth of an inch. Do not bury it deep, and do not leave a stored packet on a shelf for a year and hope.
- Sow ripe seed about an eighth of an inch deep in a pot of moist mix that drains.
- Set the pot outdoors for winter, or chill it in a refrigerator for two to three months. Keep the mix barely moist.
- When warmth returns, wait. Some pots sprout the first spring; some wait until the second.
- Grow the seedlings in part shade through the first season. Plant them out after frost. Read How to Grow Bowman's Root if you still need the woodland bed.
Can I start Bowman's root from seed?
Yes. Sow about an eighth of an inch deep and give the pot a winter of cold, outdoors or in a refrigerator for two to three months. Division is faster if you already have a clump.
If you need more plants, divide a clump in spring or fall and keep a piece of the woody crown on each chunk, then keep the new pieces shaded and moist.
FAQ
Should I start from seed or buy a pot?
A nursery clump is faster. Seed needs winter cold and may not sprout until the second spring. Divide if you already have a plant in the ground.
Can I root a stem in water?
A water cutting is slower than a spring or fall division for a home clump. Divide first if you have a plant in the ground.
Related guides
Recommended plants
References
- [1] Royal Horticultural Society -
https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/7989/gillenia-trifoliata/details - [2] Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center -
https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=gitr6 - [3] BBC Gardeners' World -
https://www.gardenersworld.com/plants/gillenia-trifoliata/ - [4] Hayefield -
https://hayefield.com/product/gillenia-trifoliata-bowmans-root/
This note is part of Gillenia Guides.
More notes on making another plant live in Propagating Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors