How to Grow Rosemary from Cuttings

Rosemary can be propagated from cuttings, a method that uses a healthy piece of the plant to produce a new plant. The Royal Horticultural Society lists rosemary among the herbs that can be propagated in this way and advises preparing cuttings measuring around 10 to 15 centimetres, with the leaves removed from the lower section before planting.

Why is the node important for root formation?

A node is the part of a stem from which leaves and buds emerge. When preparing a cutting, making the cut immediately below a node positions this area close to the growing medium, which may encourage root development.

This position also makes it easier to see which leaves need removing. The RHS advises taking off the leaves from the lower half of the cutting before placing it in the growing medium, while retaining leaves on the upper portion so it can continue photosynthesising as the new plant becomes established.

Which rosemary stem should you choose for cuttings?

Choose a healthy stem with no clear signs of disease, pests or damage. For herb propagation, the RHS recommends selecting shoots suited to the chosen method and using plant material that is in good growing condition.

For rosemary, semi-ripe cuttings can be used in summer. A stem of roughly 10 to 15 centimetres provides enough material to prepare the base while still leaving an upper section with foliage.

How to grow a rosemary plant from cuttings

Cut the selected stem just beneath a node, then remove the leaves from its lower half. Next, insert the leaf-free section into a rooting medium, ensuring the cutting is secure and that no leaves are buried.

The cutting requires sufficient moisture to prevent it from drying out, although too much water can lead to rotting. Throughout the process, keep the container in protected conditions and monitor the moisture level of the growing medium without allowing it to become waterlogged.

Who can try this method, and when?

Taking cuttings is a useful option for anyone who already has a healthy rosemary plant and wants to grow new ones without relying on seeds. Summer can be a suitable time to work with semi-ripe cuttings, depending on growing conditions and the local climate.

Rooting does not always occur at the same pace for every cutting. Temperature, humidity, light levels and stem quality all affect the process. Therefore, when growing a rosemary plant from cuttings, the key priority is to begin with healthy material and maintain stable conditions until the new plant develops roots.