13 Plants You Can Grow From Leaf Cuttings in Winter

Winter weather doesn't mean you have to toss your annuals and replace them all in the spring. You can propagate many of these plants over the winter with cuttings. Gardening expert Melissa Strauss shares some annuals you can keep coming back with propagation.

Close-up of geranium leaf cuttings with rounded, slightly jagged green leaves and sturdy stems placed in a seed starter tray filled with soil.

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Annual plants make up some of the most colorful parts of the garden. Many of those we consider annuals are perennial in some areas, but they grow quickly. So, you can grow them as annuals in just about any zone. Some are actually annual or biennial (lasting for two seasons).

These are the plants that we lament the loss of when that first freeze rolls through. Some are even frost tolerant, but their roots won’t survive winters in cold climates. Others are true annuals that complete their growth cycle in one year, flower, go to seed, and then self-sow. These can return in some climates, where their seeds receive the right conditions over the winter. 

It might happily surprise you to hear that many of these annuals are easy to propagate over the winter by rooted cuttings. You can bring cuttings indoors and encourage them to root. Then, you can plant these in place of the parents that didn’t survive the cold. Here are some ornamental annuals that you can carry through the winter with leaf cuttings, along with directions on how to do it.

How to Do It

Fresh geranium cuttings with rounded, jagged green leaves and sturdy stems are placed in plastic cups filled with soil.
Use a rooting hormone and sterile mix for successful propagation.

Propagating annuals from leaf cuttings in the winter is not much different than propagating houseplants at any other time of year. In general, a node is necessary. You’ll want to acquire some rooting hormone, along with small containers like seed cells or small nursery pots. In terms of potting media, a sterile potting mix will work. You can also use moist perlite, depending on how long you need to keep your cuttings indoors.

  1. Take cuttings from your desired plants. Make sure they are plants you can propagate via cuttings. A stem tip with a few leaves on it works best. Use a sharp knife to cut through the stem on a diagonal so that it has plenty of space to produce roots. 
  2. Remove the leaves from the lower half of the cutting. For some cuttings. it may be necessary to clip the remaining leaves in half.
  3. Rooting hormone is optional. But I find it speeds the process and gives a more consistently positive result. Dip the cut end into the rooting hormone and gently tap off any excess. 
  4. Fill your containers with moist potting medium and poke a hole in each one with a pencil eraser or other object that is about as thick as your cut stems. 
  5. Insert the cut end down, and firm the potting mix around it lightly. If you are using larger containers, feel free to plant several cuttings in each container
  6. Cover the containers loosely with a plastic bag or plastic covers to create a greenhouse effect. This holds moisture and humidity in, helping the small plant to set roots and grow.
  7. Set your containers in a warm, brightly lit space that is not in direct sunlight. Bright indirect light is ideal. 
  8. A heating mat is another optional tool that may prove helpful in this process. Warming the soil can help the plant set roots faster. 
  9. Check on your plants periodically to make sure the soil stays moist. Check for mold and fungus, as well, and remove and dispose of any rotting material.

Your cuttings should begin to set roots in about a month. Give them a light tug at this point, and if they resist your pull, they’re rooted. Move them to a brighter location. One that is in keeping with the mature plant’s exposure needs is recommended. By spring, their roots should be substantial enough to support transplanting.

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Coleus

Vibrant, multicolored green-yellow leaves with pink veins and intricate patterns grow from bushy stems in a small plastic pot.
Enjoy a bushy growth habit by pinching its tips.
botanical-name botanical name Coleus spp.
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to full shade
height height 1’-4’
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 10-11

We know coleus for its flashy and flamboyant foliage. Vivid shades of red, burgundy, yellow, green, and even deep purple appear in various patterns on a wide range of varieties. Various types tolerate a range of exposure levels. Some can thrive in nearly complete shade, while others perform best in full sun. 

Coleus produces small flower spikes, but most gardeners grow them for their fancy leaves. They are perennial in tropical climates, so you can bring the entire plant in for the winter. It’s also incredibly easy to root leaf cuttings of this plant during the winter season. As they grow, pinch the tips to encourage a bushy growth habit. 

Petunia

Bright purple, funnel-shaped flowers with trailing stems and soft, green leaves fill white hanging baskets in the garden.
Pollinators adore the abundant flowers that last until frost.
botanical-name botanical name Petunia spp.
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
height height 6″-2’
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 2-11

Petunias are perennial in Zones 10-11 and annuals elsewhere, and you can grow them from seeds or cuttings. Cuttings will ensure an exact clone of the parent plant, whereas seeds won’t always breed true. Take your leaf cuttings from any non-flowering stems that have persisted through late winter and early spring. This method will also bring you bigger, bushier petunias with earlier blooms than you would get growing them from seeds. 

Petunias like plenty of light, and they look wonderful in hanging baskets, as they have a draping habit. Pollinators love the bounty of beautiful blooms they produce throughout the year, from late spring until frost. Some types are self-cleaning, while others benefit from deadheading. 

Fuchsia

Drooping stems with vibrant, bell-shaped flowers in various shades, surrounded by glossy green leaves in a clay pot.
It thrives with gentle sunlight and attracts beautiful garden visitors.
botanical-name botanical name Fuchsia spp.
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height 1’-3’
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 6-11

Fuchsia is an attractive trailing shrub with large, flashy flowers. Most gardeners treat this as an annual. The blooms come in shades of pink, purple, white, and sometimes red. They hang downward and attract many pollinators. 

Make sure to acclimate your cuttings slowly back to their outdoor location. Moving them all at once can cause stress. Fuchsia prefers full exposure in cooler climates and afternoon shade in warmer ones. It looks great in hanging baskets. You can take your cuttings from softwood or semi-hardwood. 

YouTube video

Impatiens

Soft, pink flowers bloom above bushy, green stems with smooth, dark leaves in a large clay container outdoors.
Perfect for humid climates, they flourish with minimal attention.
botanical-name botanical name Impatiens spp.
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to full shade
height height 6″-3’
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 7-11

Impatiens tolerate a wide range of conditions depending on the variety. Traditionally they are partial to full shade lovers, but ‘Sunpatiens’ are hybrids that grow well in areas with more direct light. Their pretty flowers come in a rainbow of colors, and they are easy to care for. They don’t mind heat and humidity, but they do prefer moist soil.

Impatiens look great bordering beds, as a filler in container arrangements, or alone in a container. You are unlikely to have issues with pests or diseases here. Softwood cuttings are the best way to propagate these, though you can grow them from seeds. 

Geranium

Round, deeply serrated green leaves with clusters of deep pink flowers bloom from sturdy, upright stems in pots.
These beauties bring color and fragrance to any space.
botanical-name botanical name Pelargonium spp.
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height 1’-2’
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 2-11

I love geraniums, but in my zone, they rarely survive the winter unprotected. They have uniquely beautiful leaves, and the entire plant is aromatic, with a clean scent that is reminiscent of citrus and roses. Some have a slightly spicy undertone. It’s their large, colorful flower clusters that make these most appealing. 

Common geraniums mostly come in shades of red, pink, and white, though there are other species that have purple and even light blue blooms. Take your leaf cuttings from directly below a node in late winter. As new growth appears, pinch the remaining leaves to make them branch.

Persian Shield

Purple-tinged, iridescent leaves with bold patterns grow from sturdy stems in decorative clay pots.
Large, colorful leaves create a striking focal point indoors.
botanical-name botanical name Strobilanthes auriculata var. dyeriana
sun-requirements sun requirements Partial shade
height height 1’-4’
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 8-11

Persian shield is a fast-growing tropical that has large, pointed purple leaves with deep green veining. It’s a wonderful foliage plant, and it’s easy to care for, so you’ll want to keep it around. Persian shield produces small blue or lavender flowers, but the leaves are the main attraction. 

Persian shield is easy to propagate from leaf cuttings, so there’s no reason to toss them when winter arrives. Just make sure to take your trimmings before the first frost or bring them indoors, as this one isn’t frost-tolerant. It’s only perennial in zones 8-11. 

Sweet Potato Vine

Heart-shaped, purple-bronze leaves with trailing stems fill a hanging pot, cascading gracefully.
Gorgeous foliage thrives in containers or as ground cover.
botanical-name botanical name Ipomoea batatas
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height 6′-10′
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 9-11

Sweet potato vine may sound like it belongs in the vegetable garden, and it certainly does. However, it’s also a beautiful ornamental that comes in shades of neon green and deep eggplant purple. The long trailing vines make a pretty ground cover and are wonderful, spilling over the side of a container. 

Take longer cuttings of your sweet potato vine. Anywhere from six inches to a foot long is sufficient. Pinching just above a set of leaves will encourage branching and bushier growth. The roots of this plant do indeed grow into edible sweet potatoes!

Vinca

Dark green, glossy, oval leaves with delicate purple flowers emerge from trailing stems.
Trailing stems and vibrant blooms make a lovely display.
botanical-name botanical name Vinca minor and Vinca major
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height 3”-9″
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 4-9

Vinca is a beautiful plant that grows long, delicate stems that drape over and trail. The flowers are usually periwinkle, which is one of vinca’s common names, though they also come in white and occasionally pink. The foliage can be solid green or variegated. Some can be aggressive spreaders, but the ‘Ralph Shugert’ variety is less so. It’s also the recipient of an Award of Garden Merit from the RHS.

Vinca makes a great ground cover as long as you contain it and doesn’t allow it to take over. It’s pest and disease-resistant and incredibly easy to care for. Make sure to check for this plant on the invasive species list in your region, as it is in some areas of the United States.

Polka-Dot Plant

Small, pink-speckled green leaves grow in clusters along sturdy, upright stems in a soft pink decorative pot on a white background.
Dark green leaves with vibrant splatters make a statement.
botanical-name botanical name Hypoestes phyllostachya
sun-requirements sun requirements Bright indirect light
height height 1’-2’
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 10-11

Polka-dot makes a great partial shade plant outdoors and a nice indirect light houseplant. Its attractive foliage is the main draw. The leaves are dark green with splatters of a contrasting color, typically white, red, or pink. It is an Award of Garden Merit winner, as well. 

You can bring your entire plant indoors if you want to keep it going for the winter. You can also propagate by cuttings, if you want to increase the number you plant for next year. Polka-dot does produce flowers, but they are small and insignificant compared with the showy foliage.

Rosemary

Woody stems with narrow, needle-like leaves grow in a clay pot against a gray wall.
Easily propagate this herb in water for quicker roots.
botanical-name botanical name Salvia rosmarinus
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
height height Up to 4’
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 8-10

Rosemary seems pretty tough if you live in a warm region, but it won’t tolerate winters north of Zone 8. In Zones 8-11, it is a shrubby, aromatic evergreen and a tasty herb often used for cooking. It’s also an attractive plant that produces pale purple flowers, which are attractive to bees.  

Propagation by cuttings is easy with this herb. In fact, rooting them in soil tends to be the most effective method, which makes it even easier. Keep the soil moist but not soggy, as rosemary cuttings develop roots slowly, and they can rot easily.

Moss Rose

Bright pink and yellow flowers with succulent-like green leaves fill a large flowerpot in a sunny garden.
This colorful, resilient plant thrives in heat and drought.
botanical-name botanical name Portulaca grandiflora 
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
height height 3”-6”
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 2-12

Moss rose, which you may know as portulaca, is a semi-succulent with edible, fleshy leaves and soft, colorful flowers. It’s a great bloomer, maintaining its flowers for a significant period of the year. They open on sunny days, close at night, and remain closed on cloudy days. 

Due to its succulent nature, moss rose is drought and heat-tolerant. It self-seeds readily and will return on its own, but the seeds don’t always breed tits. If you want an exact replica of your current moss rose, propagate by cuttings.  

Pineapple Sage

Close-up of tubular red flowers growing from upright stems with soft green leaves on a blurred background.
Keep the delightful pineapple fragrance year-round with propagation.
botanical-name botanical name Salvia elegans
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height 4’-5’
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 8-10

Pineapple sage is a beautiful type of salvia that is only perennial in Zones 8-10. Elsewhere, you’ll want to take cuttings and keep them going during the cold months. It’s named for its bright green foliage, which smells strongly of pineapple when crushed. 

You can root your pineapple safely in water or potting medium. Make sure to take your trimmings from new, soft growth. These take root easily, you’ll see roots forming at the nodes on any stem that grows along the ground. It’s a great little plant that hummingbirds adore. 

Texas Lantana

Clusters of colorful yellow and orange tiny flowers bloom on upright stems, surrounded by glossy dark green leaves.
Bring pollinators to your garden with vibrant and fragrant blooms.
botanical-name botanical name Lantana urticoides
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
height height 2’-3’
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 8-11

If you have a pollinator garden, Texas lantana is an absolute must-have. It’s a host plant for painted lady butterflies and a strong nectar producer, so it draws a lot of pollinators. They are heat, salt, and drought tolerant and have aromatic foliage that has a citrus fragrance when crushed. 

Take your cuttings from new wood for propagating Texas lantana. Select stems without flowers at the end. These transplant well and are vigorous summer growers. They can grow quite large over one season and grow faster when propagated in this way than they would from seeds.

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