Start spotted laurel from a stem cutting in spring or summer. Root it in moist mix that drains.
Take a stem cutting in spring or summer
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| When | Soft tips in spring, or semi-ripe stems in summer | A wilted, midday cutting left in the sun |
| Piece | About four inches of healthy stem, cut early in the day | A long, leafy shoot the new roots cannot support |
| Mix | Moist sand, vermiculite, and peat, or a bagged rooting mix that drains | Leaving it in a jar of water as the long-term home |
| Cover | A clear bag out of direct sun, until a gentle tug meets resistance | A sealed bag in hot sun that cooks the leaves |
spotted laurel roots readily from stem cuttings, which is why a named leaf pattern stays true. Take a four-inch tip in spring, or a semi-ripe piece in summer, early in the day before the stem dries. [1] Stick it in moist mix that drains. Roots that form in a jar of water are thin and fail more often after you pot them, so mix is the home method. [2] The fleshy stem makes this an easy first cutting if you have never rooted a shrub. [3] Trimmed stems root easily, so a piece you already cut can become a new shrub. [4] Picturata uses that same cutting; the yellow blotch holds on a stem, so you do not need seed.
Can I start it from a cutting?
Yes. Take a four-inch stem in spring or summer and stick it in moist mix that drains.
How to root spotted laurel cuttings
Use a sharp knife or pruners. You do not need rooting hormone.
- Cut a four-inch tip early in the day. Strip the leaves from the lower half, and cut the remaining leaves in half so the new roots are not asked to support a full leaf.
- Fill a small pot with moist rooting mix that drains. Stick the lower half of the stem so the leaves do not touch the mix.
- Set the pot in a clear plastic bag, out of direct sun. Mist only if the leaves flag; the bag should hold moisture.
- When a gentle tug meets resistance, pot the new plant in fresh mix. Grow it on How to Grow Spotted Laurel, or keep it in a draining pot on Spotted Laurel in Pots.
Do I need rooting hormone?
No. Spotted laurel roots without it. Hormone does not hurt, but mix that drains matters more.
If the stem turns mushy, the mix stayed too wet — start again in mix that drains, under a bag out of the sun.
FAQ
Can I root a cutting in a jar of water?
It will often sprout roots, but those roots are weak. If you start it in water, move it into potting mix as soon as the roots are about an inch long.
Related guides
Recommended plants
References
- [1] Gardening Know How -
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/aucuba/japanese-aucuba-propagation.htm - [2] Better Homes & Gardens -
https://www.bhg.com/gardening/plant-dictionary/shrub/gold-dust-plant/ - [3] NC State Extension Gardener -
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/aucuba-japonica/ - [4] University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture -
https://www.uaex.uada.edu/yard-garden/resource-library/plant-week/Aucuba-japonica-variegata-gold-dust-plant-01-15-2016.aspx
This note is part of Aucuba Guides.
More notes on making another plant live in Propagating Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors