Want to add more barberry to your landscape without breaking the bank? You’re in luck! Propagating barberry at home is actually pretty straightforward. There are a few different ways to get the job done, and I’ve broken them down into simple, easy-to-follow steps. With a little patience, you’ll have plenty of new shrubs ready for your garden in no time.
The Different Ways to Propagate Barberry
Generally speaking, there are three main ways to grow new barberry plants yourself:
- Using softwood cuttings
- Using hardwood cuttings
- Growing from seed
Propagating Barberry from Softwood Cuttings
Starting with softwood cuttings is the most popular method because it usually has the highest success rate. Here’s how you do it:
- Cut off a few young, green shoots that haven’t turned woody yet. Aim for pieces about 4 to 6 inches long. Make your cut just below a leaf node or bud.
- Strip off the lower leaves. You don’t want any foliage buried in the dirt, as that’s a fast track to mold and rot.
- Prep your starter pots with a light seed-starting mix or herb soil. If you want to give them a little boost, you can put a thin layer of compost at the very bottom of the pot, but keep the soil around the stem nutrient-poor—this actually encourages the plant to grow roots faster as it “searches” for food.
- Stick the cuttings about two-thirds of the way into the soil. To keep humidity high, cover the pot with a clear plastic bag or dome.
- Find a warm spot for your new babies, like a sunny windowsill. Just be sure to pop the plastic off for a few minutes every day to let some fresh air in and prevent mold.
- Before you know it, you’ll see new growth and roots forming. Once they’ve established a solid root system, you can move your new barberry plants to a great spot in your garden or a larger permanent pot.
Propagating Barberry from Hardwood Cuttings
The main difference here is that you’re using older wood. Instead of using the soft tips, you actually snip off the tip and use the middle section of a branch. The rest of the process is pretty much the same as softwood cuttings. This method works particularly well for those fast-growing deciduous varieties.
Propagating Barberry from Seed
Yes, barberry produces seeds inside those bright berries, and you *can* plant them. However, I’ll be honest with you: this is the “slow lane” of propagation. It takes a lot longer, and barberry seeds aren’t known for having great germination rates. If you’re looking for results this season, stick with the cutting methods mentioned above!
