Propagation of Helichrysum Petiolare

Propagating from Stem Cuttings

• A stem cutting, taken from a mature Helichrysum petiolare plant, develops roots in the right environment. Once established, the cutting grows into an identical clone of the parent plant. Helichrysum seeds germinate reliably but, as with many cultivated varieties, the seeds often grow into a plant different from the parent plant. To grow an identical plant, propagate it from stem cuttings. Select springy green wood in early to midsummer to have a new plant ready for the following spring.

Rooting the Stem Cuttings

• Take a stem cutting 3 to 6 inches long. Make the bottom cut just below a leaf node at a 45 degree angle. Make the top cut at a horizontal angle. Remove the leaves from the bottom of the cutting leaving the top set of leaves. Insert the bottom 1/3 to 1/2 of the Helichrysum petiolare stem cutting into a pot filled with soilless rooting media. Roots develop in two to four weeks at 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Transplant it out the next spring after the last frost.

Seed Propagation

• You can grow Helichrysum petiolare as an annual in climates outside its growing region from seed or starts each spring. Start the seeds in a greenhouse or an indoor area six to eight weeks before the last frost date in your growing region. Germinate seeds in damp soil between 68 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit. If the propagation area regularly falls below the required temperature range, use a heating pad, available at garden centers, to regulate soil temperature.

Planting Out and Overwintering

• Plant rooted cuttings and seed starts out in spring after the last frost date. Helichrysum petiolare plants grow well in full sun or partial shade. Poor, rocky or sandy soil makes ideal conditions as long as the area drains well. Helichrysum petiolare suffers in wet, clay like or waterlogged soil. To overwinter, plant in hanging baskets or pots, or lift the roots from the soil in the fall and transplant into indoor containers for the winter.