Whether you’re looking to multiply the roses already in your garden or you’re ready to try growing them for the very first time, you’ve got a few great options to get started.
The Quick & Easy Way: Cuttings
Growing roses from cuttings is a fan favorite because it’s super straightforward. You don’t have to worry about finicky seeds or waiting for the perfect lunar cycle—roses are naturally vigorous growers! You can take cuttings twice a year, in either fall or spring. They root pretty quickly, and before you know it, they’ll be ready to move into their permanent home. Here is what you’re looking for in a perfect cutting:
- Length: 6 to 8 inches
- Nodes (the “eyes”): 4 to 5
- Thickness: About 1/4 to 1/2 inch (roughly the width of a pencil)
Just a heads-up: if you start cuttings in the fall, you’ll need to baby them through the winter indoors or in a greenhouse. That’s why I usually recommend starting in the spring. Once you’ve got your cutting, strip off the thorns and remove the leaves from the bottom third. Make sure to leave at least one pair of leaves at the top. Stick the cutting into a pot filled with loose, nutrient-rich soil so that only the top leaves are peeking out. Be careful not to overwater! If you keep the soil moist but not soggy, you should see roots forming in just a few days. By May, they’ll be ready for the garden.
Pro Tip: Where to get your cuttings
The only real “catch” with cuttings is that you need a parent plant to start with. Since you can’t exactly go hacking away at bushes in public parks, you’ll need to buy a rose bush first or ask a gardening buddy for a snip of theirs. You can also find rose cuttings on online plant swap groups—gardeners love to share!
The Classic Approach: Sowing Seeds
If you’ve harvested fresh rose hips, you can actually grow roses from the seeds inside. First, wash and dry the seeds (pro tip: wear gloves, as the tiny hairs inside the hips can be itchy!). To get them ready to grow, they need a “winter nap” in the fridge—a process called stratification. Keep them in an airtight container in the cold until mid-March, then follow these steps:
- Spread the seeds out on a damp paper towel.
- Wait for them to sprout.
- Be patient! This can take anywhere from 4 weeks to—believe it or not—2 years. Roses can be a bit stubborn like that.
- Keep in mind that not every seed will germinate.
- As soon as they sprout, get them into the garden.
- Cover the seeds with a very thin layer of soil (about 1/4 inch).
- Keep the temperature between 50°F and 75°F.
- Once they finally sprout, the young plants actually grow quite fast!
