Spring may be the season that comes to mind when we think of renewals, but late summer is a very close second in my native propagation efforts. Late summer is the time when cuttings are striking, and seeds are germinating. It is the season when I dedicate my time and energy to individually potting cuttings and seedlings, hoping they will grow into strong transplants that can be planted in the garden this fall.
I might have been a bit premature in potting the red-flowered currant cuttings on. Some of them had numerous roots, while others had none at all. I chose to pot them all on to 4″ pots, knowing that even those that are slower will get roots any day. Sometimes I make choices based on capacity. Would I have time to get back to these cuttings and pot them on later? Maybe not. So I took a chance.
The redder red-flowered currant cuttings that I took a week later did not get potted on. I will work on them in mid-September. The other native cuttings are on hold, as well, until their roots are fully formed, including salmon berry, philadelphus, and osoberry. The cuttings are still showing strong signs of life (big leaf buds), so I remain hopeful they will strike in the next few weeks.
Regarding seedlings, the Mahonia (Berberis) aquifolium seedlings are strong, and I thought it made sense to move them to individual or small group pots so they can be transplant-ready next spring.
Regarding favorite native perennials, I would be hard-pressed not to choose Douglas aster or Puget gumweed. Oh sure, Western trilliums are striking, and fringecups put on an elegant show, but the asters and gumweeds put on an amazing late summer spectacle for months that pleases human eyes and meets pollinator needs.
