Many cuttings root more easily when taken from juvenile stock plants.

One method to maintain stock plants in a more juvenile condition is to hedge stock plants to induce shoots from near the base of the plant.

Photo of hedged Eucalyptus stock plants in containers.

Hedged Eucalyptus stock plants in containers.

Hedging is pruning stock plants to maintain juvenility.

It arrests the normal loss in rooting potential.

Promotes vigorous, upright, non-flowering growth.

Photo of hedged Croton stock plants.

Hedged Croton stock plants.

Root formation in hedged stock plants of Douglas fir.

Pruning treatment Tree age Rooting %
Not pruned
  • 4
  • 8-9
  • 14-15
  • 24-25
  • 55
  • 63
  • 22
  • 5
Hedged
  • 24-28
  • 35-42
  • 45
  • 15

Black, 1972.

The source of hedged stock plants are often seedlings, but rejuvenation can be induced by hard pruning of mature phase plants.

This causes new shoots to arise from the cone of juvenility.

Photo showing plants which have recieved hard pruning, with the branches severely cut back nearly to the trunk.