Looking for a beautiful wild rose hedge to frame your yard, add some privacy, and boost your curb appeal? You don’t have to spend a fortune at the nursery to get that look. If you’ve got a little patience, you can easily propagate these beauties yourself. Here’s the lowdown on how to get started.
Growing Wild Roses from Seed
If you already have a wild rose nearby, you can harvest the hips and use the seeds inside for propagation. First, separate the pulp from the seeds. You’ll then need to let the seeds dry out and give them a “cold treatment” (known as stratification). You can do this easily by popping them in the fridge for a while to mimic winter. Just a heads-up: growing roses from seed is definitely the “slow and steady” route.
Here’s your game plan:
- Clean and prep your seeds.
- Fill starter pots with a mix of potting soil and a bit of sand.
- Plant the seeds about 1/4 inch (5 mm) deep.
Don’t get discouraged if you don’t see sprouts right away—it can sometimes take over a year for the seeds to germinate! Also, keep in mind that they won’t start growing until temperatures stay above 50°F (10°C). It’s best to plant them outdoors in the spring once the danger of frost has passed, or you can get a head start by starting them indoors.
Propagation via Cuttings
If you’re looking for faster results, cuttings are the way to go. You’ll want to snip your cuttings in either the spring or fall. Look for healthy shoots about 8 inches (20 cm) long, and make sure each piece has about four “eyes” (nodes). Strip the leaves off the bottom half of the cutting—this is the part that goes into the dirt. If you’re planting them directly outside, May is usually the sweet spot.
Using Root Suckers for Propagation
Wild roses often send out “suckers” or runners from their roots. You can actually do the mother plant a favor by thinning these out so it doesn’t get too crowded, and use those extras to start new plants! Just use a spade to carefully detach a runner that has already developed its own roots from the main plant. Pop it into some good soil and give it a thorough watering to help it settle into its new home.
