How to propagate Escallonia?

Escallonia is an evergreen bush famed for its generous pink or white flowering that enlivens garden throughout summer. Its glossy green foliage makes it an excellent evergreen bush for hedging, whether left informal or clipped. The more compact varieties are suitable for borders and even for containers on a terrace. Escallonia is prized for rapid growth, disease resistance, and ease of maintenance and to grow. It makes up for relative sensitivity to cold (hardy down to −10°C) by good resistance to sea spray, which makes it essential in mild, coastal climates. It is very easy to propagate by cuttings. Discover when and how to propagate Escallonia very easily with our illustrated tutorial.

When to take Escallonia cuttings?

Propagation by cuttings can be made either from new shoots of the year, on herbaceous stems in June, or at end of summer, in August or September, from lignified stems to produce semi-ripe cuttings. These semi-ripe cuttings are taken from stems that grew in spring and are starting to change from soft wood to hard wood.

How to propagate Escallonia?

Propagation by cuttings is the most commonly used method to multiply Escallonia.

Herbaceous cuttings under cover

Cuttings root within few weeks.

In June, cut a 10–15 cm stem just below a leaf or an eye with no buds or flowers
Remove leaves from base of stem, keep those at tip
Fill pots with a light mix of turf and river sand
Thoroughly moisten substrate with sprayer
Insert cuttings so they are pushed in halfway into substrate
Water cuttings regularly and keep them warm and covered under cover until rooted by covering with a cut plastic bottle, a plastic bag, or a mini-greenhouse
Place in bright position out of direct sun
Ventilate regularly (about every 3–4 days) to prevent rotting
Keep frost-free
Pot on in spring in March–April into individual buckets filled with potting compost and sand
Plant out in ground in autumn once root system is sufficiently developed

Semi-ripe stem cuttings

Take semi-ripe cuttings about 10–15 cm long, choosing healthy, vigorous stems
Remove lower leaves to obtain a clean cutting
Make a slanted cut at base of cutting and optionally dip in a plant hormone to encourage rooting.
Place cuttings in a well-drained substrate made of turf and sand, ensuring they are planted to about halfway along their length
Place pot in bright spot sheltered from direct sunlight
Keep substrate moist but avoid excess moisture
After few weeks, cuttings will develop roots. They can then be potted into individual buckets
Place buckets outdoors in a bright, sheltered spot, protected from direct sun, wind and bad weather.
In autumn, bring cuttings under cover before first frosts
Pot on following spring

Equipment needed:

Clean, sharp pruning shears to take cuttings
Plant hormone for cuttings to encourage root formation
potting compost favouring rooting or a mix of 2/3 turf and 1/3 garden sand
A pot, tray or biodegradable buckets
A cloche, a cut plastic bottle, a plastic bag or a mini-greenhouse
A sprayer