Skip to main content

Plant Reproduction: How Do Plants Reproduce?


Plant reproduction comes up in our discussions here at Plant to Plate.  Each gardening facts article has a Reproduction section for the plant being discussed.  


For example, our Growing Roses article contains this statement:

Roses reproduce by seed and by suckers.  They can also be propagated by cutting.

How do plants reproduce?  Why does it matter to gardeners?  Read on to find out.


Jump to:  How it happens | Why it matters | Where to find it


How Do Plants Reproduce?

Some common ways that plants reproduce are by seed, by runner, by sucker, by rhizome, and by cutting.


Of these, reproduction by seed is the most common.  Most seed-bearing plants produce seeds from their flowerheads or in their fruits.  Sometimes these are part of the normal, slow growing process.  Other times, they are produced when the plant experiences stress and bolts, also known as going to seed, suddenly.


Runners and suckers are shoots that come out of a plant and form an additional plant.  The main difference between runners and suckers is that runners are above the ground, while suckers are below the ground.


Reproduction by rhizome means that the plant's roots or rhizomes are divided, and a new plant can grow from the divided rhizome.  This occurs naturally in some plants.  Gardeners can also manually divide roots or rhizomes to imitate the natural process.


Reproduction by bulb is very similar to reproduction by rhizome.


Some plants can also be propagated by cutting.  This means that a piece of the plant is cut off and then planted into the soil on its own.  Eventually, it grows into a new plant.  This reproduction method can happen in nature such as if a plant is damaged by an animal or a weather event.  But it can also be done artificially.


There are other methods like budding that are less common in the plants discussed on Plant to Plate.  We have covered the most common reproduction methods for practical plants.


So how does knowing about plant reproduction methods help gardeners?


Why It Matters

A plant's method of reproduction matters to gardeners who save seed or propagate plants on their own rather than buying new seeds every growing season.  Future Plant to Plate articles will consider how to enjoy the many advantages of doing so.


Reproduction method also matters to those who want to limit a plant's spread.  For example, peppermint reproduces by seed, runner, and rhizome.  It also has an aggressive growth pattern in addition to its multiple reproduction methods.  See our Growing Mints article for more information.  This knowledge may lead you to plant your peppermint only in containers or in an environment where it has a lot of competition from other species.  


For other plants, you may choose to harvest before they go to seed.  Alternatively, you might cut off flowers before they open to prevent them from spreading where you don't want them.


So it is best to know a plant's reproduction method and take it into account as you plan the layout and timing of your garden.


Speaking of garden planning, why not grab a FREE printable garden planner?

Get your free garden planner!

Get the Plan Ahead! Printable Garden Planner (normally $10) absolutely FREE with email signup. You'll also get our latest content and updates sent directly to your inbox for FREE. Plan your next garden better!

    We respect your privacy. We won't sell your data or send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time.


    Where to Find Information on a Plant's Reproduction Methods

    Each of our gardening facts articles considers a particular plant, including its reproduction method.  For example, the gardening facts article Growing Onions gives an overview of optimal growing conditions for onions in a straightforward, easy-to-reference format.


    You can access it by going to an individual plant's gardening facts page.  From here, you can click on "Reproduction" from the "jump to" menu at the top of the page.  You can also scroll down to the section itself, which asks and answers how the plant reproduces, such as this one for strawberries.


    Read More

    Check out these articles about more of the categories listed on our gardening facts pages:





    Popular posts from this blog

    Growing Marshmallow: Quick Facts

    Whether you garden in the ground, in raised beds, on the patio, or anywhere else, marshmallow is a great addition or re-addition to your plant family. Read on for simple, straightforward specifics about growing marshmallow. Jump to: Family | Container Size | Good Companions | Bad Companions | Soil Conditions | Germination | Sun | Water | Temperature Range | Height | Lifespan | Reproduction | When to Harvest | Ingestibility | Further Reading What  Family  Does Marshmallow Belong To? Marshmallow ( Althea officinalis ) belongs to the Malvaceae family , also known as the mallow family . Some of its relatives include okra, hollyhock, and cacao. What Size Container Should I Use for Growing Marshmallow? The minimum container size recommended for marshmallow is 5 gallons. A 5-gallon bucket or container is usually about 12 inches deep.  But the capacity of the container is important because marshmallow needs to spread out in all directions, not just vert...

    Growing Kale: Quick Facts

    Whether you garden in the ground, in raised beds, on the patio, or anywhere else, kale is a great addition or re-addition to your plant family.  Read on for simple, straightforward specifics about growing kale. Jump to: Family | Container Size | Good Companions | Bad Companions | Soil Conditions | Germination | Sun | Water | Temperature Range | Height | Lifespan | Reproduction | Yield Per Plant | Ingestibility | Further Reading What  Family  Does Kale Belong To? Kale ( Brassica oleracea var. sabellica ) belongs to the Brassicaceae family , also known as the cabbage family . Some of its relatives include cauliflower , radishes , and broccoli . What Size Container Should I Use for Growing Kale? The minimum container depth recommended for kale is 8 inches.   However, a container that is at least 12 inches deep is preferred.  This size is less likely to cramp the roots, so it can result in larger leaves.   A container that is...

    Growing Marigolds: Quick Facts

    Whether you garden in the ground, in raised beds, on the windowsill, or anywhere else, marigolds are a great addition or re-addition to your plant family.  Read on for simple, straightforward specifics about growing marigolds. Jump to: Family | Container Size | Good Companions | Bad Companions | Soil Conditions | Germination | Sun | Water | Temperature Range | Height | Lifespan | Reproduction | Yield Per Plant | Ingestibility | Further Reading What Family Do Marigolds Belong To? Marigolds ( Tagetes spp. ) belong to the Asteraceae family , also known as the daisy family . Some of their relatives include lettuce , gaillardia , and chamomile . What Size Container Should I Use for Growing Marigolds? The minimum container depth recommended for marigolds depends on the type and variety. For French marigolds, the minimum depth is 6 inches. For Mexican and African marigolds, the minimum depth is 10 inches. Learn more in our Choosing the Right Planter for Your Con...