How to Grow Acanthus From Cuttings

Acanthus is a perennial evergreen with an architectural presence that gives the garden year-round structure. The plants are used as focal points in mixed plantings and also perform well as foundation plantings. Acanthus is reluctant to grow from stem cuttings, so when you are ready for more plants, take root cuttings instead. Cutting into the roots of the plant is a little daunting at first, but the plants easily tolerate the loss of the few small pieces you need.

Things You'll Need

Hand trowel
Sharp knife
Flats at least 3 1/2 inches deep

Potting soil
4-inch individual pots

Instructions

- 1
  Use a hand trowel to dig a trench along the side of the acanthus plant. When you locate a few thick, fleshy roots, cut them from the plant with a sharp knife. Lay out your root cuttings so they all face the same direction, making it easy to tell which end is the tip.
- 2
  Cut the roots into 1 1/2- to 2-inch pieces. When possible, cut along nodes or lines of division on the roots.
- 3
  Fill a flat with potting soil to within 1/2 inch of the top. Smooth out the soil and use a pencil to make holes at 3-inch intervals.
- 4
  Insert the root cuttings into the hole with the tip end down. Firm up the soil around the cuttings, leaving 1/4 inch of the cutting above the soil.
- 5
  Moisten the soil and keep it slightly moist at all times. Wet or soggy soil causes the roots to rot.
- 6
  Transfer the cuttings to individual pots when they send up green shoots. Place the pots in a sunny window and keep them moist.

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