Tara Luna Botanist
R. Kasten Dumroese National Nursery Specialist
Thomas D. Landis National Nursery Specialist (Retired)
Dormant hardwood cuttings are sections of woody stems that can develop into new plants complete with stems, leaves, and roots. Cuttings differ from seedlings because all new daughter plants that arise from cuttings are genetically identical to the parent plant. Cuttings can be long or short, depending on how they are used.
For most riparian projects (figure 1), cuttings are collected from woody plants on the site during the winter (dormant) period. Once buds begin to swell and leaves begin to appear, the plant is no longer dormant. Dormant cuttings grow roots easier and are better able to resist environmental stresses.
Figure 1—Cuttings were planted to
stabilize
an eroding creek bank.
—Kristi DuBois photo
The hardwood in hardwood cuttings means that plants have dropped their leaves and have firm stems. If you intend to use cuttings from plants that are not dormant, this tech tip is not for you. To collect dormant hardwood cuttings, you must be able to identify the plant species, safely use hand tools, collect healthy stem wood complete with intact leaf buds, and follow the procedures described below.
- Short sections of dormant woody stems (cuttings) can be planted to grow into new trees or shrubs.
- Cuttings often are used to plant trees or shrubs in the moist areas along the edges of streams or lakes where they can grow roots easily.
- This tech tip summarizes what you need to know to take cuttings correctly and to plant them properly.
Because you will be collecting dormant hardwood cuttings from late fall to early spring, you must be able to identify trees and shrubs that don't have leaves or flowers. You'll need to become familiar with some basic features of dormant stems and buds (figures 2, 3, and 4). Let's discuss stems first. A stem node is where buds are attached. The region between nodes is the internode. Leaf scars are visible just under the buds. These scars are left after leaves drop off in the fall. Vascular bundle scars are dots located within the leaf scar, formed when leaves fall off and break the vascular tissues that carry fluids from the twig to the leaf. Lenticels are pores on the stems that allow gas exchange for some species. Hardwood stems can be either solid or hollow, depending on the species. The color and shape of the stems also are useful for identification.
Figure 2—Redosier dogwood
buds
on a
dormant plant.
Left: note the light bulb-shaped
terminal bud. Top right: buds
are in pairs on opposite sides
of the stem. Bottom right: the
vascular scar is visible beneath
the dormant bud.
—Illustrations by Steve Morrison
Figure 3—Cottonwood buds have
three or
four large bud scales.
Below the bud is a triangular-
to crescent-shaped leaf scar.
—Illustrations by Steve Morrison
Figure 4—Willow buds are covered with a
single scale. Below the bud is a narrow,
crescent-shaped scar with three
vascular bundle scars.
—Illustrations by Steve Morrison
Buds also are important for identification. Buds protect tissues that will develop into leaves or flowers the following spring. Leaf buds are usually small and narrow, while flower buds are larger and rounder. Buds are covered with papery, specialized leaves (usually brown) called bud scales that protect embryonic leaves and flowers during winter. Buds may be naked, meaning they don't have bud scales. The terminal bud is at the tip of the stem. All other buds are called lateral buds. An important characteristic is whether the lateral buds are opposite from one another or alternate from one side to the other. For example, redosier dogwood has opposite buds, while willow and cottonwood have alternate buds (see figures 2, 3, and 4).
Stem and Buds of Common Species Used for Riparian Projects
- Redosier dogwood (Cornus sericea)—Leaf buds are reddish, opposite, naked and covered with fine hairs. Leaf buds are long and slender. The flower bud is the terminal bud on the end of the twig and is shaped like a light bulb (see figure 2). Stems are solid, red to reddish purple, and often have prominent white lenticels on the stems. Don't confuse redosier dogwood with Rocky Mountain maple. Maple also has red stems and opposite buds, but the buds are rounder and covered with bud scales.
- Cottonwood (Populus species)—Leaf buds are large, golden-brown, alternate, and slender. The buds often have red aromatic resin, and are covered with three or four large bud scales (see figure 3). Flower buds are plump and are on the upper branches of the tree. Leaf scars are either triangular or crescent shaped. Stems are solid, brownish green, and shiny. Young sucker shoot stems are angular with obvious white lenticels. Older stems are round, gray, and smooth.
- Willow (Salix species)—Many species of willow (figure 5) grow in the Western United States, and they can be very difficult to identify. All willows, however, have leaf buds that are small, variously colored, narrow, thin, and alternate (see figure 4). Buds are covered with a single cap-like bud scale. Flower buds usually are plumper and are on the upper stem tips. Leaf scars are generally narrow and crescent shaped with three vascular bundle scars (see figure 4). Stems are solid and may be yellow, red, green, brown or gray, depending on the species.
Figure 5—A little more than a year after
being planted, these willow cuttings are
thriving. —Kristi DuBois photo
