How to Propogate an Elderberry Bush

Cut a shoot off of the desired parent plant. Perform this cutting when the softwood can be snapped if bent. Time the cutting so that the leaves on the shoot have varied sizes or maturity. The ideal time to perform cuttings is in late spring. Take cuttings early in the day. Each cutting should be about 4 to 6 inches long and ideally will contain a terminal bud.

Maintain moisture and cool temperatures around the cuttings until they are placed in a rooting medium. A dark plastic bag with wet towelling is suitable for this. If the cuttings must remain out of the medium for more than a few hours, store them in a refrigerator or chest filled with ice.

Remove leaves from the lower one-third of the cutting. No leaves should remain that will come into contact with the rooting medium.

Dip the base of the cutting into the rooting hormone. Cut only the basal surface, and any wounds made by removing the lower leaves must be covered.

Firm the growing medium around the cuttings with gentle pats. Lightly water the rooting medium to help it settle around the cuttings.

Cover the propagation box with plastic. Keep the cuttings out of direct sunlight.

Mist or gently water the cuttings regularly. The rooting medium should always remain moist.

Examine the cuttings for roots every few weeks. Gently tug on the cuttings to test for resistance, an indication that roots are developing. Once roots are more than 1/2-inch long, they are ready to be transplanted.

Transplant the cuttings with roots into small containers or pots filled with potting soil. Once these rooted cuttings are of a suitable size and have been hardened off, they can be transplanted into their permanent landscape locations.