Perennial plants can be propagated by which method?

• A. removing side shoots, leaving only the center of the clump
• B. snipping off and discarding the tips of stems and roots
• C. removing spent flowers to encourage re-blooming
• D. lifting and dividing plants when they are dormant

Answer: (D)

The method being tested is vegetative propagation by dividing a perennial clump. When perennials form thick, crowded clumps, you can lift the plant, gently separate the root ball into several smaller sections, and replant each section. Each division has its own roots and shoots, so it can grow into a new plant that’s a clone of the parent.

Dividing during dormancy or in early spring before top growth resumes minimizes stress. The plant isn’t actively producing new shoots or flowers, so it can recover more easily from the disturbance, establish new roots quickly, and resume vigorous growth once conditions improve. This approach also makes it practical to create multiple plants from a single specimen and helps keep the parent clump healthy.

Pruning or deadheading—such as removing stem tips, trimming spent flowers, or discarding parts of the plant—affects aesthetics, flowering, or plant shape but does not create new plants. The idea of propagating via division is specifically about using the plant’s existing root system to generate new individuals, which is why lifting and dividing during dormancy is the best choice.