7 Cuttings to Take in May for Free Pollinator Plants – Bees, Butterflies, and Hummingbirds Love Them
Spring is a perfect time for softwood cuttings; here are our picks for suitable pollinator-friendly plants
Pollinators play a crucial role in any garden, and their work moving pollen and producing fruits, vegetables, and seeds cannot be undervalued. May is a great time to get lots of new pollinator-friendly plants for your garden for free by taking cuttings of existing ones.
Spring is a perfect opportunity to take softwood cuttings of shrubs, perennials, and herbs adored by bees, butterflies, moths, and hummingbirds. New growth on these plants is ideal for taking plant cuttings that root quickly, and you can add these new pollinator-friendly plants to your garden in early fall or next spring.
Here, I look at some of the best plants to propagate in May for free pollinator plants. I also reveal some tips I have picked up over my years as a professional gardener to ensure your cuttings root well and grow healthily. New plants at no cost – what’s not to love?
1. Lavender
The dreamy purple flower spikes of lavender are rich in nectar. When you grow lavender in a garden, you’ll often see lots of bees and butterflies flock to the fragrant flowers during the long blooming season.
Gardeners can propagate lavender from softwood cuttings in spring and early summer, with May an ideal time to get new bushes for free. You can buy lavender plants or plant lavender seeds (if you have patience), but taking cuttings offers a great way to get clones of your favorite types.
TIP: The ideal stems for softwood cuttings are 4-6 inches long and this year’s growth. They should not be flowering and should be free from any sign of damage, pests, or disease. And you remove the lower leaves, leaving the top few on a few inches of bare stem.
2. Bee Balm
The name gives this one away, as, unsurprisingly, bee balm is very attractive to many different types of bees. But wait, there is more. Bee balm, also known as monarda or bergamot, is also popular with hummingbirds, butterflies, and moths.
It means you’ll see a range of pollinators around this native plant whether you grow it in flower beds or pick compact monarda varieties to grow in containers. All types of bee balm are prime for softwood cuttings in late spring to early summer when they are actively growing.
TIP: Make a cut at the bottom of the cutting, just below a node, and dip the end of the cutting in rooting hormone. Such a product mimics the plant’s natural hormones and helps to speed up rooting. It is an optional but recommended stage of cuttings.
You can get gel or powder rooting hormone – an example of the latter is this rooting powder on Amazon.
3. Salvia
Salvia is a large plant genus, which includes perennials and annuals in a wide range of colors, sizes, and forms. If you do want to grow salvia in your garden, there is such a variety that there will be one for any size or style – you can even grow salvia in pots on a deck or patio.
Most gardeners love them as one of the best perennials for vivid color in flower beds. They are also a magnet for pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, which love the nectar-rich tubular flowers of salvia.
If you have a favorite type of salvia in your garden, taking softwood cuttings guarantees you identical plants. It is a great way to propagate salvia this month. Whereas if you collect seed, you can suffer from cross-pollination, and there is no guarantee you’ll get the same blooms you adored on the parent plant.
TIP: After taking and preparing your cuttings, place them in a small container filled with a good potting soil, such as this premium potting soil at Amazon designed for seedlings and cuttings. You can place up to six cuttings in one four-inch pot.
4. Mint
Even though mint has a reputation for being thuggish (which, admittedly, it can be), there are ways to control it, and growing mint is a staple for any herb garden or kitchen garden.
The leaves can be used in cooking and medicine, plus the flowers of the aromatic herb attract lots of pollinators. If you have a patch of flowering mint in your yard, you’ll see bees, butterflies, and moths going after the nectar.
Of all the different mint varieties, mountain mint (you can get live mountain mint plants at Nature Hills) and spearmint (get spearmint seeds and plants at Burpee) are great options if you want to attract lots of pollinators. And you can propagate these, along with any other types of mint, quickly and easily from softwood cuttings in May.
TIP: A simple way to propagate mint is to place the cuttings in water. Take your cuttings the same way as explained above, then submerge the cutting into a container or glass filled with water. Place it somewhere it can get warm, indirect sunlight, and roots should appear within 1-2 weeks. You can plant the young mint into a pot once the roots are a few inches long.
5. Nepeta
Catmint, or Nepeta, always impresses with grey-green foliage, trumpet-shaped lilac blooms, and a citrussy fragrance. It is well-known as being attractive to cats, but do all gardeners appreciate how adored nepeta is by pollinators?
The plant has nectar-rich flowers for bees and butterflies. The pollinators will appreciate the plentiful, long-lasting food source, as nepeta is one of the longest-flowering perennials and can bloom from late spring to early fall.
You should act fast to take nepeta cuttings to get healthy non-flowering shoots before the plants start bursting into bloom for the season. Thankfully, nepeta has a reputation for rooting in just a matter of weeks.
For success, take 4-6-inch cuttings of healthy shoots, snip just below a node, and dip them into rooting hormone. Place the cutting in a small pot filled with free-draining potting mix.
TIP: You can improve the chances of successful rooting by covering the pots with a clear plastic lid or bag. Doing so creates a warmer, mini-greenhouse environment and increases the humidity levels. This reduces moisture loss and stops the cutting from drying out.
You can get nursery pots with humidity domes at Amazon that are perfect for raising healthy cuttings.
6. Buttonbush
There are at least three good reasons to grow buttonbush. Firstly, the native flowering shrub has some of the most unique, spherical, pin-cushion-like flowers. Secondly, it is a low-maintenance shrub to add seasonal interest to borders. And, thirdly, it attracts a plethora of pollinators.
The fragrant white blooms are made up of lots of smaller flowers and are a magnet for many types of bees and butterflies. Furthermore, buttonbush is a host plant for several types of moths. Later in the year, the shrub develops fruits that provide food for lots of species of birds – all in all, these factors make buttonbush an underrated shrub for any wildlife garden.
An existing buttonbush can provide many softwood cuttings in spring. As the shrubs naturally thrive in moister conditions, cuttings tend to root quickly. Plant the cuttings in a moist, well-draining potting mix, and keep the compost moist but not waterlogged. The shrub should happily root in two to four weeks.
TIP: Any cuttings must be taken with clean, sharp pruning tools, such as pruning shears or garden snips, such as these micro-tip plant shears at Walmart.
Heading out with your sharp tools early in the day to collect material for cuttings is recommended, as the stems contain more moisture in the morning. As you collect cutting material, place the stems in a clear plastic bag to prevent them from drying out.
7. Weigela
Weigela shrubs have trumpet-shaped blooms in vibrant shades of pink, purple, or red. These traits make the flowers hugely attractive to bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds throughout the season.
If you want more of these flowering shrubs, the window to take weigela cuttings is open in May. Taking softwood cuttings is a reliable, cost-effective way to expand your collection of these striking shrubs and fill any space with flowers that pollinators adore.
TIP: The cuttings want warmth and bright, indirect sunlight. These ideal conditions can be achieved by placing them into an unheated greenhouse or cold frame to root. However, to speed up rooting, you can place the pots in a propagator or onto a heat mat (like this seedling heat mat at Burpee) for extra warmth.
Shop Gardening Essentials
These pruning shears feature soft, ergonomically shaped grips for comfortable pruning. They also feature coated, non-stick blades that stay sharp for longer.
A good pair of gloves is essential for a range of gardening tasks. These durable and comfortable gloves protect your hands and your arms, too.
This small propagation station allows you to grow three different cuttings in water. It is ideal for smaller spaces, such as windowsills.
May is a busy time for any gardener. As well as understanding which plants to propagate in May, it is also a prime month for sowing, planting, and pruning.
Thankfully, we’ve got you covered with expert guides to a range of seasonal tasks. One such example is this guide on what to plant in May for a low-maintenance summer garden. You can also find pieces on easy vegetables to plant in May and fast-growing flowers to sow this month.
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