WINTER PROPAGATION OF CONFEDERATE ROSE (HIBISCUS MUTABILIS) WITH HARDWOOD CUTTINGS^©

Confederate rose (Hibiscus mutabilis), a native of southeastern China, is an old-fashioned, ornamental plant often found in older gardens in the southern USA. Hardy in U.S.D.A. Zones 7-9, plants grow as large shrubs or small trees in warmer areas, but generally die back to a woody base or short trunk in colder areas of their range.
Stems from the past growing season that remain on plants during the winter in the warmer regions may be used to prepare hardwood stem cuttings.
The current study examined hardwood cutting propagation of confederate rose in response to a 1-sec basal quick-dip in auxin (1000 ppm IBA, 3000 ppm IBA, 1000 ppm IBA + 500 ppm NAA, and 3000 ppm IBA + 1500 ppm NAA) and a basal wound (along with 1000 ppm IBA only). Cuttings were rooted in a warm, high-humidity environment within a greenhouse.
Auxin treatments improved overall rooting percentage and total root length, with 1000 ppm IBA (without and with a basal wound) providing the highest rooting percentages (about 70%) and non-treated cuttings the lowest (44%). A significant increase in total root length on rooted cuttings resulted with the use of 3000 ppm IBA and use of a basal wound plus 1000 ppm IBA compared with non-treated cuttings.
Auxin and wounding treatments did not have any significant inhibitory effects on bud break and growth of new shoots on rooted cuttings.

Proceedings of the International Plant Propagators Society – 2012

E.K. Blythe

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2013.1014.31