A piece of a plant, usually a stem or leaf, removed from a parent plant and rooted to produce a new, genetically identical plant.
A cutting allows gardeners to create new plants without using seeds. Instead of growing from a seed, the new plant develops roots from a portion of an existing plant.
Because the new plant comes directly from the parent, it is a clone and retains the same characteristics, including growth habit, flower color, fruit quality, and other traits. This makes cuttings one of the most reliable forms of propagation.
Many herbs, houseplants, shrubs, and ornamental plants can be propagated successfully from cuttings.
Cuttings provide a simple and inexpensive way to multiply desirable plants. They are often faster than growing from seed and allow gardeners to preserve specific varieties that may not come true from seed.