Anyone know the best way to propagate Sweet Olive. My son has a large shrub and it is so fragrant, I love it. I have tried softwood cuttings with rooting hormone and they were doing okay but all the leaves seems to have dried out now. I still have one stem just in water and it's still alive but even after, like, two months, no roots. I really would like one at my house too!

When it gets warmer and more humid, you'll probably have better luck. A humidity tent/dome can help if doing inside. Most woody plants are best propagated in spring-early summer. What I've read about propagating this one suggests using a heel, where there's a bit of the larger branch attached at the base of the selected twig. If you pull it off instead of cutting, it's easier to achieve this, in my somewhat limited experience with this type of thing. Are any of the branches long enough to bend to the ground, or to a pot set next to the shrub? Layering might be an option if so.

I got one of these in January, I was scooting through WM really fast, just checking to see if there were any house plants I needed, and was stopped in my tracks by the wonderful odor. It took a minute to find the shrub responsible because they're not real showy flowers, as you obviously know. It's still blooming like crazy in its' pot and after I get it planted in the ground, I was going to try to propagate more also.

Woodies tend to rot before they can take root in water, but you never know when you'll get a pleasant surprise! Sometimes snipping the end back to firm material can help if it does start to rot. Sending good vibes to your cutting!

Yay! Then I will try again, maybe in about a month. I never even thought of layering. I will check it out to see if I can find a branch to try it.

I don't know a lot, usually it's just trial and error and sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. The stem in water in the greenhouse still looks great. Maybe I can try with some hormone and pot it up in a few weeks too, I'll try the heel thing as well.

Thank you!

Yes, that's what I do, keep dabbling until something gets growing. Glad you found the info inspiring. Good luck!

Arlene, how's it doing? I'd be very interested. Sweet Olive has been on my want list for years & for some reason they seem difficult to find. When I do, I'll want to propagate more so would like to hear what's worked for you & what hasn't.

Nothing worked and I found one at a plant sale at Calloway Gardens so I quit trying

Okay, thanks Arlene.

If I try the layering again I'll let you know if it works. Since my plant is at MY house instead of at my son's and it is smaller and lower to the ground, it may be worth trying again.

Sounds good, thanks Arlene!