Division is a great way to get more plants without having to pay for them. However, not every plant tolerates this propagation method very well. You can divide them if you absolutely have to. But generally if a plant has a tap root or brittle roots, it’s easier to propagate it by another method, such as by seed, cuttings or layering.
Here’s a list of some plants not to divide:
| Plant Name | Best Propagation Method |
|---|---|
| Baby’s breath Gypsophila paniculata |
Seed or cuttings |
| Butterfly weed Asclepias tuberosa |
Seed |
| Candytuft Iberis sempervirens |
Seed or cuttings |
| Evening primrose Oenothera macrocarpa |
Seed |
| False indigo Baptisia australis |
Seed |
| Foxglove Digitalis spp. |
Seed |
| Gas plant Dictamnus albus purpureus |
Seed |
| Lavender Lavandula spp. |
Seed, layering or cuttings |
| Lavender cotton Santolina chamaecyparissus |
Seed or cuttings |
| Lupine Lupinus spp. |
Cuttings |
| Mediterranean spurge Euphorbia characias |
Cuttings |
| Rosemary Rosmarinus officinalis |
Seed or cuttings |
| Russian sage Perovskia atriplicifolia |
Cuttings |