Plant propagation is an integral part of plant breeding as it requires learning how to make and grow seed and how to maintain the mother plants by division and cuttings. September is the ideal time to multiply your most desirable plants and to save some of your half-hardy perennials from a cold winter. Expert horticulturist Janet Egger will demonstrate how to select and root softwood cuttings of fuchsia, cuphea, roses and other garden favorites. She will also show how to collect, card, clean and package seeds; divide grasses and other perennials for planting out this fall; and how to layer shrubs to create new plants for planting out next spring. You will take home some of the plant cuttings and cleaned seeds that you worked with during the class.

Instructor’s Bio:

Janet Egger has been in horticulture since 1971 and has been a plant breeder since 1980. She holds a B.S. in botany and an M.S. in horticulture from UC Davis. She recently retired as head plant breeder for Terra Nova Nurseries in Canby, Oregon. She volunteers at Dunn Gardens as a board member, docent and database manager.