Propagation Methods for Herbaceous Perennials--M
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I, J, K | L | M | N, O | P | R | S | T | U,V,W, X,Y,Z
The following table contains temperate and sub-tropical (to USDA zone 9) herbaceous genera and species. Some may be quite rare and only found on a continent or country such as Australia or South Africa. Due to variations in references, some may contain more than one comment or time period for a method.
| Methods of Propagation: | |
| S = seed | LC = leaf cutting |
| SC = stem cutting | L = layering |
| RC = root cutting | TC = tissue culture or micropropagation |
| D = division |
This table is an updated and expanded version of the printed version which can be found in the NRAES book by Dr. Leonard Perry, Herbaceous Perennial Production. Appreciation is expressed to Andrea Luchini, graduate assistant, for most of this update.
|
Scientific
Name |
Common Name |
Methods of
Propagation |
Time Period |
Comments/Requirements |
|
|
Macleaya
(Bocconia) sp. |
Plume
Poppy |
RC |
winter |
|
|
|
|
|
D |
early spring |
suckers,
or while dormant |
|
|
|
|
S |
|
|
|
|
|
|
SC |
spring |
basal |
|
|
Macrochloa:
see Stipa |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Maianthemum
sp. |
Canada
Mayflower |
D |
|
|
|
|
|
|
S |
|
humus
soil |
|
|
M.
stellatum (Smilacina stellata) |
Starry
False Solomon’s Seal |
RC |
late June (after flw) |
rhizome
cuttings - 20cm |
|
|
Majorana:
see Origanum |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Malva
sp. |
Mallow |
S |
|
may
self sow |
|
|
|
|
SC |
spring |
tip,
before budding |
|
|
|
|
D |
spring, fall |
difficult |
|
|
Malvastrum
(Sphaeralcea) sp. |
|
S |
|
|
|
|
|
|
D |
|
|
|
|
|
|
SC |
|
softwood,
bottom heat |
|
|
M.
coccineum |
|
D |
|
|
|
|
Mandragora
sp. |
Mandrake |
S |
spring |
or
when ripe |
|
|
|
|
RC |
winter |
taproot |
|
|
Manfreda
sp. |
|
S |
|
slow |
|
|
|
|
D |
|
offsets,
bulbils |
|
|
Maranta
leuconeura |
Prayer
Plant |
SC |
|
humidity
tent |
|
|
Marrubium
sp. |
Horehound |
S |
late spring |
erratic |
|
|
|
|
SC |
spring |
new
growth |
|
|
|
|
L, D |
|
|
|
|
Marshallia |
|
D |
|
|
|
|
Marsilea
sp. |
Pepperwort |
SC |
spring |
of
rhizomes |
|
|
|
|
D |
|
wet
soil |
|
|
|
|
S |
|
spores
(abrade sporocarps) |
|
|
Matricaria
sp. |
Matricary |
SC |
fall |
of
side shoots |
|
|
|
|
D |
fall, spring |
|
|
|
|
|
S |
|
|
|
|
Matteuccia
sp. |
Ostrich
Fern |
S |
|
spores |
|
|
|
|
D |
|
side
crowns some sp. |
|
|
|
|
SC |
|
stolons |
|
|
Matthiola
fruticulosa |
Stock |
S, D |
|
|
|
|
Mazus
sp. |
|
S |
|
|
|
|
|
|
D |
|
runners |
|
|
Meconopsis
sp. |
Asiatic
Poppy |
S |
late summer |
ripe,
slow in spring |
|
|
|
|
D |
spring, fall |
after
flw, some sp. |
|
|
M.
betonicifolia, grandis, quintuplinervia, punicea, simplicifolia |
|
S |
|
sow
fresh; other species need cold store |
|
|
Meehania
sp. |
Japanese
Dead Nettle |
D |
|
rhizomes,
rooted stolons |
|
|
|
|
S, SC |
|
|
|
|
M.
cordata |
Meehan's
mint |
SC |
|
rooting
hormone helps, bottom heat not necessary |
|
|
Megasea:
see Bergenia |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Melandrium:
see Silene |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Melanthium
sp. |
Bunchflower |
D |
|
difficult,
as Veratrum |
|
|
|
|
S |
|
sow
ripe |
|
|
Melica
sp. |
Melic |
D |
spring |
|
|
|
|
|
S |
|
|
|
|
Melissa
officinalis |
Lemon
Balm |
S |
|
self
sows, slow |
|
|
|
|
D |
spring, fall |
basal
shoots |
|
|
|
|
SC |
|
|
|
|
Melittis
melissophyllum |
Bastard
Balm |
SC |
spring |
basal |
|
|
|
|
D |
spring |
|
|
|
|
|
S |
|
|
|
|
Mentha
sp. |
Mint |
D, SC |
|
|
|
|
|
|
RC |
|
invasive,
rhizomes |
|
|
M.
pulegium, M. requienii |
|
S |
|
may
self sow, hybridizes, some infertile |
|
|
Menyanthes
trifoliata |
Marsh
Trefoil |
D |
late spring |
|
|
|
|
|
RC |
summer |
rhizomes,
wet soil |
|
|
Mercurialis
perennis |
|
D |
|
|
|
|
|
|
SC |
|
stolons,
invasive, shade |
|
|
Merendera
sp. |
|
S |
summer |
spring
flw sp., moist in spring, dry in summer |
|
|
|
|
S |
spring |
fall
flw sp. |
|
|
Mertensia
sp. |
Bluebells |
D |
spring, fall |
use
care, fall after foliage best |
|
|
|
|
SC |
|
|
|
|
M.
maritima |
|
S |
summer |
shade |
|
|
Mesembryanthemum:
see Delosperma |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Meum
athamanticum |
Baldmoney |
D |
|
difficult |
|
|
|
|
S |
|
sow
fresh |
|
|
Michauxia
campanuloides |
|
S |
spring |
sow
direct |
|
|
Microderis:
see Leontodon |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Microglossa:
see Aster albescens |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Micromeria
sp. |
Savory |
S |
|
may
self sow |
|
|
|
|
SC |
summer |
softwood
and semi-ripe |
|
|
Microseris:
see Leontodon |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Milium
effusum |
Wood
Millet |
S |
|
may
hybridize, self sows |
|
|
|
|
D |
|
|
|
|
Milla
biflora |
Mexican
Star |
S |
spring |
as
Ipheion |
|
|
|
|
D |
late summer |
offsets,
for varieties |
|
|
Milla
uniflora:
see Ipheion uniflorum |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mimulus
sp. |
Monkey
Flower |
S |
spring |
or
sow direct |
|
|
|
|
D |
spring |
|
|
|
|
|
SC |
spring, summer |
softwood |
|
|
|
|
SC |
late summer |
shrubby
sp., semi-ripe |
|
|
Mindium:
see Michauxia |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Minuartia
sp. |
Sandwort |
S |
spring |
|
|
|
|
|
D |
|
after
flw |
|
|
|
|
SC |
summer |
cvs,
greenwood |
|
|
Miscanthus
sp. |
Eulalia |
TC |
|
|
|
|
|
|
D |
spring |
|
|
|
|
|
S |
|
indoors
in cool climates |
|
|
Mitchella
sp. |
Partridge
Berry |
D |
spring |
rooted
stems, acid soil, shade |
|
|
|
|
S |
|
slow,
remove from berry |
|
|
Mitella
sp. |
Bishop's
Cap, Mitrewort |
D |
|
rhizomes
or stolons |
|
|
|
|
S |
|
may
self sow |
|
|
Moehringia
muscosa |
Sandwort |
S |
early spring |
|
|
|
|
|
D |
fall |
lime
and humus soil |
|
|
Molinia
sp. |
Moor
Grass |
D |
early spring |
|
|
|
|
|
S |
|
cold
to germinate |
|
|
Molopospermum
peloponnesiacum |
|
S |
|
sow
fresh |
|
|
Moltkia
sp. |
|
S |
|
|
|
|
|
|
L |
|
|
|
|
|
|
SC |
|
lime
soil |
|
|
M.
doerfleri |
|
D |
|
|
|
|
Monarda
sp. |
Bee
Balm |
D |
spring, fall |
crown |
|
|
|
|
S |
|
species
only |
|
|
|
|
SC |
spring, fall |
prior
to budding, basal fall-winter |
|
|
Moneses
uniflora |
Wood
Nymph |
D |
spring |
use
care, as Pyrola |
|
|
Monstera
deliciosa |
Cut-leaf
Philodendron |
SC, L, S |
|
air
layer |
|
|
Montbretia:
see Crocosmia |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Montia
(Claytonia) sp. |
Miner's
Lettuce |
D |
|
|
|
|
|
|
S |
|
self
sows |
|
|
Moraea
sp. |
Butterfly
Iris |
S |
spring |
summer
flw sp. |
|
|
|
|
D |
fall |
winter
flw sp. |
|
|
Moricandia
arvensis |
Violet
Cabbage |
S |
|
|
|
|
Morina
sp. |
Whorl
Flower |
S |
|
ripe,
sow direct |
|
|
|
|
RC |
|
large
and thick, well-drained mix |
|
|
|
|
D |
|
risky,
taproot, slow |
|
|
Morisia
monanthos |
|
S |
fall |
|
|
|
|
|
RC |
winter |
sandy
soil, keep dry |
|
|
Muehlenbeckia
sp. |
Wire
Plant |
S |
|
|
|
|
|
|
SC |
summer |
move
when well-rooted |
|
|
M.
axillaris |
|
D |
|
|
|
|
Muhlenbergia
sp. |
|
S |
|
|
|
|
|
|
RC |
|
rhizomes,
invasive |
|
|
Mukdenia
(Aceriphyllum) rossii |
|
D |
|
as
Heuchera |
|
|
|
|
S |
|
self-sterile |
|
|
Muscari
sp. |
Grape
Hyacinth |
D |
|
bulb
scooping and scoring help produce offsets |
|
|
|
|
D |
late summer |
bulb
clusters |
|
|
|
|
TC |
|
leaves,
scales, flower parts |
|
|
|
|
S |
late spring |
sow
fresh, ripe |
|
|
Mussaenda
sp. |
|
SC, TC |
|
|
|
|
Myosotidium
hortensia |
|
S |
fall |
|
|
|
|
|
D |
|
difficult,
taproot, use care |
|
|
Myosotis
sp. |
Forget-Me-Not |
S |
|
|
|
|
|
|
SC |
spring, summer |
|
|
|
|
|
D |
spring, early fall |
|
|
|
Myriophyllum
sp. |
Milfoil |
SC |
|
wet
soil, invasive |
|
|
|
|
D |
|
|
|
|
Myrrhis
odorata |
Myrrh,
Sweet Cicely |
S |
|
ripe,
self sows |
|
|
|
|
D |
|
use
care |
|
|
|
|
RC |
spring, fall |
|
|
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