Essential Guide to Plant Propagation: Techniques and Know-How for Propagating All Types of Plants, Indoors and Out

Multiply and share your favorite plants with this definitive guide, the most complete and reliable plant propagation reference available-- featuring more than 35 photo-illustrated techniques.

Covering both indoor and outdoor species, Essential Guide to Plant Propagation is an authoritative yet friendly resource that combines clear, step-by-step instruction with expert horticultural insight to ensure success. Backed by the most trusted name in North American gardening, The American Horticultural Society, you'll learn how to grow more plants for less money while gaining a deeper understanding of how plants reproduce and thrive.

Inside, you'll find straightforward explanations, how-to photo sequences, and practical advice for every major propagation method, including seed sowing; stem, root, and leaf cuttings; grafting; layering; division; and so much more. Guidance on equipment, timing, and environmental conditions ensures healthy, vigorous results. Whether you're starting houseplants on a windowsill or producing shrubs and perennials for the garden, you'll learn exactly how to achieve success every time.

Inside, you'll find:

• Step-by-step instructions for 35+ propagation methods, using both vegetative plant parts and seeds.
• Expert techniques for indoor and outdoor plants, including trees, shrubs, perennials, and houseplants.
• Troubleshooting advice for common issues like rot, mold, and poor rooting success.
• Guidance on tools, growing media, and ideal propagation conditions for every plant type.
• Expert knowledge from the American Horticultural Society, refined through decades of hands-on experience.
• Over 300 color photographs

Whether you're a home gardener, plant collector, or professional grower, Essential Guide to Plant Propagation provides the confidence and knowledge to multiply plants efficiently, preserve rare varieties, and expand your garden with ease--all while sparking curiosity and joy.

Get expert answers to your other gardening questions in: Essential Guide to Perennial Gardening, Essential Guide to Ecological Gardening, and Essential Guide to Organic Vegetable Gardening.

Author: American Horticultural Society
Publisher: Cool Springs Press
Published: 10/06/2026
Pages: 240
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 1.90lbs
Size: 9.90h x 8.00w x 0.70d
ISBN: 9780760398319


Review Citation(s):
Library Journal 09/01/2026 pg. 128
Booklist 10/01/2026

About the Author
Founded in 1922, the non-profit American Horticultural Society (AHS) is one of the most respected and longstanding member-based national gardening organizations in North America. The Society's membership includes aspiring, new, and experienced gardeners, plant enthusiasts, and horticultural professionals, as well as numerous regional and national partner organizations. Through its educational programs, awards, and publications, the AHS inspires a culture of gardening and horticultural practices that creates and sustains healthy, beautiful communities and a livable planet. AHS is headquartered at River Farm, a 25-acre site overlooking the Potomac River that is part of George Washington's original farmlands in Alexandria, Virginia. ahsgardening.org