Propagation Methods for Herbaceous Perennials--N,O
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I, J, K | L | M | N, O | P | R | S | T | U,V,W, X,Y,Z
The following table contains temperate and sub-tropical (to USDA zone 9) herbaceous genera and species. Some may be quite rare and only found on a continent or country such as Australia or South Africa. Due to variations in references, some may contain more than one comment or time period for a method.
| Methods of Propagation: | |
| S = seed | LC = leaf cutting |
| SC = stem cutting | L = layering |
| RC = root cutting | TC = tissue culture or micropropagation |
| D = division |
This table is an updated and expanded version of the printed version which can be found in the NRAES book by Dr. Leonard Perry, Herbaceous Perennial Production. Appreciation is expressed to Andrea Luchini, graduate assistant, for most of this update.
|
Scientific
Name |
Common Name |
Methods of
Propagation |
Time Period |
Comments/Requirements |
|
|
Narcissus
sp. |
Daffodil |
TC |
|
|
|
|
|
|
S |
|
sow
fresh |
|
|
|
|
D |
|
clumps |
|
|
Nardus
stricta |
|
D |
spring |
acid
soil |
|
|
|
|
S |
spring |
|
|
|
Narthecium
sp. |
Bog
Asphodel |
D |
spring |
peaty,
moist soil |
|
|
|
|
S |
|
|
|
|
Nasturtium
sp. |
Watercress |
SC |
spring |
roots
easily in water |
|
|
|
|
S |
|
|
|
|
Naumbergia:
see Lysimachia |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nectaroscordum
siculum |
Sicilian
Honey Garlic |
S |
early spring |
|
|
|
|
|
D |
|
offset
bulblets |
|
|
Nelumbo
sp. |
Lotus |
TC |
|
from
excised embryos |
|
|
|
|
S |
|
flw
3rd year, keep wet |
|
|
|
|
D |
|
submerged
in gravel, difficult |
|
|
Neopaxia:
see Claytonia |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nepenthes
sp. |
|
LC, SC, TC |
|
|
|
|
Nepeta
sp. |
Catmint |
SC |
spring, summer |
stem
tip or softwood, easy |
|
|
|
|
S |
fall |
|
|
|
|
|
D |
spring, fall |
|
|
|
Nerine
sp. |
|
TC |
|
scales,
lateral buds, young flower stalk |
|
|
|
|
|
|
chipping,
bulb scaling |
|
|
|
|
S |
|
some
years before plants of flowering size |
|
|
|
|
D |
|
offset
bulblets |
|
|
Nierembergia
sp. |
Cupflower |
SC |
|
from
new spring growth |
|
|
|
|
SC |
summer |
heel,
subshrub sp., sandy |
|
|
|
|
S |
spring |
|
|
|
|
|
D |
spring |
rooted
stems, creeping sp. |
|
|
Nipponanthemum
nipponicum |
|
S |
|
|
|
|
|
|
D |
|
|
|
|
Nitella
sp. |
Stonewort |
D |
|
|
|
|
|
|
SC |
|
submerge |
|
|
Nitholaena:
see Cheilanthes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nomocharis
sp. |
|
S |
spring |
acid,
moist, shade, epigeal |
|
|
Nothoscrodum
sp. |
False
Garlic |
D |
|
offset
bulbs |
|
|
|
|
S |
|
may
be invasive |
|
|
Nuphar
sp. |
Cow
Lily |
D |
|
rhizomes,
invasive |
|
|
Nymphaea
sp. |
Water
Lily |
S |
|
sow
submerged with pulp, not for hybrids |
|
|
|
|
D |
|
rhizomes,
submerge pot |
|
|
|
|
TC |
|
epiphyllous
plantlets as explants |
|
|
Nymphoides
sp. |
Floating
Heart |
D |
fall |
stems
with rooted nodes |
|
|
|
|
D |
spring |
|
|
|
|
|
S |
|
sow
submerged, erratic |
|
|
Oenanthe
sp. |
|
SC |
|
stem
tip |
|
|
|
|
D |
|
O.
crocata
toxic to livestock |
|
|
|
|
L |
|
often
spontaneous |
|
|
Oenothera
sp. |
Evening
Primrose |
D |
fall, spring |
crown,
after flw |
|
|
|
|
S |
spring |
|
|
|
|
|
RC |
summer |
|
|
|
|
|
SC |
|
some
sp. even root in flw |
|
|
O.
missouriensis |
|
RC |
|
of
underground stems really |
|
|
|
|
SC |
spring |
basal
shoots |
|
|
O.
glaber |
|
SC |
summer |
|
|
|
Olymposciadium:
see Seseli |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Omphalodes
sp. |
Navelwort |
S |
|
|
|
|
|
|
D |
spring |
use
care, difficult |
|
|
Omphalogramma
sp. |
|
S |
|
related
to Primula |
|
|
|
|
D |
spring |
acid
soil, moist |
|
|
|
|
LC |
|
|
|
|
Onobrychis
sp. |
Holy
Clover |
S |
|
sow
direct |
|
|
Onoclea
sensibilis |
Sensitive
Fern |
S |
|
spores |
|
|
|
|
D |
|
rhizome |
|
|
|
|
RC |
|
rhizome |
|
|
Onois
sp. |
Rest
Harrow |
S |
spring |
sow
direct or ripe in fall, taproot |
|
|
|
|
SC |
early summer |
shrub
sp., bottom heat |
|
|
|
|
D |
early spring |
before
growth |
|
|
Onopordum
sp. |
Cotton
Thistle |
S |
spring, fall |
sow
direct best |
|
|
Onosma
sp. |
|
S |
|
well-drained
mix, high pH |
|
|
|
|
SC |
summer |
some
sp. irritate skin |
|
|
Ophiopogon
sp. |
Mondo
Grass |
D |
spring, fall |
acid
soil, like Liriope |
|
|
|
|
TC |
|
|
|
|
|
|
S |
|
ripe,
not for cvs |
|
|
Ophrys
sp. |
|
S |
|
sow
direct, difficult |
|
|
|
|
D |
|
tuber,
during flw |
|
|
Opithandra
primuloides |
|
SC |
|
|
|
|
|
|
S |
|
|
|
|
Opuntia
sp. |
Prickly
Pear |
SC |
|
|
|
|
|
|
D |
|
joints,
lay flat on soil |
|
|
|
|
S |
|
|
|
|
Orchis
(Dactylorhiza sp.) |
|
S |
|
some
sp. self sow |
|
|
|
|
D |
|
tubers,
humus and acid soil |
|
|
Oreobroma:
see Lewisia |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Oreopteris
sp. |
Mountain
Fern |
S |
summer |
spores,
as Thelypteris |
|
|
Oreostachys
sp. |
|
D |
|
|
|
|
Origanum
sp. |
Marjoram,
Oregano |
S |
spring |
|
|
|
|
|
D |
|
some
sp. |
|
|
|
|
SC |
spring, summer |
softwood |
|
|
Ornithogalum
sp. |
Star of Bethlehem |
TC |
|
|
|
|
|
|
LC |
|
emerging
leaves, under mist |
|
|
|
|
S |
|
ripe |
|
|
|
|
D |
fall |
offsets,
bulbils |
|
|
Orobanche
sp. |
Broomrape |
S |
|
parasitic,
sow direct onto host roots |
|
|
Orobus:
see Lathyrus |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Orontium
aquaticum |
Golden
Club |
S |
summer |
submerge,
often self-sows, sow ripe |
|
|
|
|
D |
early summer |
rhizome |
|
|
Orostachys
sp. |
|
S |
|
|
|
|
|
|
D |
spring, summer |
secondary
rosettes |
|
|
Orthilia
secunda |
|
D |
|
|
|
|
|
|
S |
|
use
native soil, as Pyrola |
|
|
Oryzopsis
miliacea |
Rice
Grass |
D |
spring |
|
|
|
|
|
S |
spring |
sow
direct |
|
|
Osmunda
sp. |
Flowering
Fern |
S |
|
sow
very fresh spores, cvs come true |
|
|
|
|
D |
|
massive
rootstock |
|
|
|
|
TC |
|
|
|
|
Osteospermum
sp. |
Star
of the Veldt |
S |
spring |
most
flower 1st year |
|
|
|
|
SC |
summer |
heel,
sandy mix |
|
|
Ostrowskia
magnifica |
Giant
Bellflower |
S |
|
slow,
difficult, flw in 3 years |
|
|
|
|
RC |
|
thick,
stick vertical |
|
|
Othonna
sp. |
|
S |
|
|
|
|
O.
cheirfolia |
|
SC |
eary summer |
softwood |
|
|
Othonnopsis:
see Othonna |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ourisia
sp. |
|
S |
|
fresh,
peat soil |
|
|
|
|
D |
spring |
|
|
|
Oxalis
sp. |
Shamrock |
TC |
|
|
|
|
|
|
S |
|
sow
ripe, acid soil |
|
|
|
|
D |
|
also
offsets |
|
|
Oxygria
digyna |
Mountain
Sorrel |
S |
|
self
sows, acid soil |
|
|
|
|
D |
|
|
|
|
Oxyria
digyna? |
Mountain
Sorrel |
|
|
|
|
|
Ocypetalum:
see Tweedia |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Oxytropis
sp. |
Locoweed |
S |
early spring |
sow
direct, hard to transplant |
|
|
|
|
D |
|
may
need appropriate Rhizobium |
|
|
Ozothamnus
sp. |
|
SC |
summer |
semi-ripe |
|
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