How we love our annual flowers on the Canadian Prairies. While our hardy perennials, trees and shrubs have a short period of bloom annuals just keep going all summer right until frost. Did you know that some of the plants that we use in our summer containers are actually perennials and often evergreen perennials in warmer climates?

Some of what is in your annual arrangements might make you a great houseplant. Deciduous perennials aren’t good because they want to take a break and die back. Tomatoes and peppers are evergreens in their countries of origin as are Hibiscus (Rose of Sharon), Musa (banana), although once it bears fruit it should be cut back to re-grow. Many ferns, which we do see sold as houseplants. Yucca, Aloe, Agave, cactus and most sedums work. I have friends on the West Coast who kept a Passiflora (Passion flower) going in a pot for thirty years. They would bring it in for winter and it would drop quite a few leaves, but it bounced back each Spring with a light pruning.

Alternanthera, pictured above on the left, has a number of evergreen varieties with interesting leaves. The other vial in the photo has a petunia stem I broke when deadheading but it is a year round plant in it’s original home in the tropics. A number of the Tradescantias are evergreen, as well as Hedera (English Ivy). Many herbs like lavender, thyme and rosemary are perennial in warmer climates. Impatiens, particularly New Guinea, bamboo, Ajuga (Bugleweed), some Heuchera (Coral Bells), Coleus and Vinca (Periwinkle) can all come inside as houseplants.

The trick here is to know what you’re growing and look it up to see if it is evergreen. If you don’t know what’s in your pots try ‘Google Lens’ or one of the plant ID apps like ‘Picture This’. Take a cutting or a good picture to the greenhouse where you got your plants. Find out if it’s worth your time to propagate.

If you decide to propagate, now is the time to take tip cuttings. In the picture is my propagator, it’s cute as well as handy. Get it here. I always have something in it for decoration: cut flowers from the store, wild flowers from a walk or cuttings for houseplants. I have a number of Philodendron because of this set-up. I’m kind of craving the wall hanging version, see it here.

Take at least three nodes (where the leaves come out on the stem), cut away the leaves on the bottom two nodes and stick in water. Really! It’s that easy with any plant that is soft and juicy. If you take the soft tips of plants that get woody, like lavender, you should still get some rooting in water. The other alternative is to take woodier cuttings, dip into a rooting hormone then into soil.

Pot up your cuttings when you have a good set of roots. Don’t expect much of them in the winter when days are short. Don’t over-water. You have a nice houseplant or even the start of next summer’s containers! Watch for a further post about bringing whole plants inside the house.