How to take cuttings from abelia?

The Abelia is a beautiful, floriferous bush with decorative foliage. In summer, it becomes covered with small white or pink flowers, often fragrant. Versatile, it fits perfectly in all gardens. This bush is very easy to propagate by taking cuttings from the stems to obtain young plants true to the "mother" variety, ready to be replanted in your garden, in flower beds, flowering hedges, or even in pots.

Discover when and how to take Abelia cuttings very easily with our illustrated tutorial!

When to take Abelia cuttings?

Propagation is done by semi-hardwood or semi-ripe cuttings in mid-summer, in July/August (when the stems become lignified, i.e. begin to turn into hard wood). This simple and quick method for propagating Abelia gives very good results.

Required equipment

To take Abelia cuttings, you'll need the right equipment:

A terracotta pot
A well-sharpened secateurs, previously disinfected with 70°C alcohol, to avoid any risk of disease spread
A pencil or small stick to make holes in the growing medium
Special sowing or cutting compost
A cloche, cold frame or simple transparent plastic bag
A spray bottle

How to take Abelia cuttings under cover?

Taking cuttings under cover is very easy and keeps the growing medium sufficiently moist during summer: the compost should never dry out completely. This technique involves covering the cuttings with a plastic bag or cloche to maintain a warm, humid atmosphere around the cuttings. Kept warm like this, they root more easily.

Prepare a pot filled with a mix of sowing compost and river sand in equal parts to receive your cuttings
Moisten the compost

Using secateurs, take this year's stems from the "mother plant" that aren't too tender and are very vigorous, 20-25 cm long
Cut just below a node
Remove all leaves from the lower half of the stems for about 10 cm
Cut remaining leaves in half to reduce evaporation
Make holes in the compost with the pencil then insert the cuttings three-quarters deep in each hole, spacing them 10-15 cm apart
Gently firm the compost around the stems and water with the spray bottle
Cover the pot with transparent plastic secured with an elastic band or place under a cloche to keep the cuttings under cover
Keep the pot in shade until autumn
Water regularly but not excessively so the growing medium stays moist but not waterlogged
Ventilate occasionally to prevent mould developing
In early October, when cuttings show signs of growth, remove the plastic or cloche and place the pot in a cold frame or conservatory for winter
Water as often as needed but not excessively, as too much moisture encourages mould