Propagate Hopbush From a Semi-Hardwood Cutting

Propagate Hopbush From a Semi-Hardwood Cutting guide illustration

Propagate hopbush from a semi-hardwood cutting so a purple plant stays purple. Seed will grow, but the seedlings vary.

How to Propagate Hopbush care summary diagram

Take a semi-hardwood cutting

FactorRecommendedAvoid
WoodSemi-hardwood from this season, just firmed, with no flowers or fruitDo not take floppy new tips or old stiff wood
LengthAbout 4 to 6 inches, from near the base of a healthy shrubDo not leave a long, leafy stem that wilts before it roots
MixMoist perlite, or a sharp mix that drainsDo not push the cutting into wet garden soil
AftercareBright shade, daily mist if the air is dry, until roots show in 4 to 6 weeksDo not bake the pot in hot sun

hopbush clones from a cutting. That is how you keep a purple hedge matching, and how you keep a female plant that sets the showy capsules. [1] Take wood that has just firmed, in the warm months. [2] Sun, soil, and hedge care live on How to Grow Hopbush.

When do I take hopbush cuttings?

In the warm months, from semi-hardwood that has just firmed and is not in flower or fruit. Spring through summer is the usual window.

How to root a hopbush cutting

Strip the lower leaves, dip the base in rooting hormone, and set the stem in a hole you poked in moist perlite so the cut end is not crushed. [3]

  1. Take a 4 to 6 inch semi-hardwood piece from a healthy shrub. Avoid flowers and fruit.
  2. Strip the lower leaves. Leave a few at the tip. Cut large leaves in half if they wilt.
  3. Dip the base in rooting hormone.
  4. Poke a hole in moist perlite and set the cutting in. Firm the mix. Water once.
  5. Keep the pot in bright shade, out of wind. Mist when the air is dry.
  6. Wait 4 to 6 weeks for roots. Pot on into a mix that drains, then grow it on before it goes in the hedge.

Seed is slower, and it will not hold a purple leaf. Soak seed overnight in hot tap water, sow about a quarter inch deep in a sterile mix, and keep it moist. Seedlings often show in about 10 days. [4] Use seed when you want more green plants, not when you need a matching purple row.

Can I grow hopbush from seed?

Yes. Soak the seed overnight in hot tap water, sow about a quarter inch deep, and keep the mix moist. Seedlings vary in color, so take cuttings if you need a purple match.

If a cutting wilts, take a shorter semi-hardwood piece, keep the mix just moist, and move it out of hot sun.

FAQ

Will seed come purple?

Often not. Seed from a purple plant can come green, bronze, or mixed. Take a cutting if you need the same leaf.

Can I air-layer hopbush?

Air layers can root, but they take months. A semi-hardwood cutting is the usual home method for a matching hedge plant.

Recommended plants

References

  1. [1] ABC Gardening Australia - https://www.abc.net.au/gardening/how-to/propagating-sticky-hop-bush/103198104
  2. [2] Australian National Botanic Gardens - https://www.anbg.gov.au/gnp/interns-2007/dodonaea-viscosa.html
  3. [3] Harvest to Table - https://harvesttotable.com/how-to-grow-hopseed-bush-dodonea/
  4. [4] USDA NRCS - https://plants.sc.egov.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/factsheet/pdf/fs_dovi.pdf

This note is part of Dodonaea Guides.

More notes on making another plant live in Propagating Guides.

Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors

This guide is written for real gardens, not perfect climates. Results vary with site, season, and plant choice. We draw on multiple sources and practical experience; treat the steps here as honest guidance, not a promise that every bed will behave the same.