Quick Guide to Shoreline Livestake Propagation
- Best Season to Plan: Fall
- Best Planting Time: Dormant season (late fall–early spring)
- Suitable Species: Black willow, elderberry, silky dogwood, buttonbush
- Cuttings (Livestakes): 2–3 feet long, 0.5–2 inches in diameter
- Storage Tip: Keep cool and moist before planting
Why Vegetated Buffers and Livestakes Matter
Vegetated buffers are an important part of a healthy stream. If you want to re-vegetate shorelines using livestake propagation, fall is the perfect time to start planning.
If you’re new to livestake propagation, you can learn more about this practice in our factsheet: Livestakes: Easy Propagation for Streambank Plants.
What Are Livestakes?
Livestakes are woody cuttings harvested from specific species of trees or shrubs and inserted directly into moist soil on streambanks.
Suitable Species for Livestake Propagation
- Black willow
- Elderberry
- Silky dogwood
- Buttonbush
These species tend to establish roots easily. When the weather turns cold, these species become dormant and store their energy in woody stems to survive the cold months and leaf out again in the spring. If we install woody cuttings from these species into moist soils, they will take root and begin to grow the following spring (Fig.1).
Figure 1. New growth on a black willow livestake in Florence, SC, 2 months after being planted in a clear container
Katie Collins, ©2025, Clemson Extension
How to Obtain Livestakes
Livestakes can be purchased and shipped from some nurseries, but they are relatively easy to harvest if the proper species are present on your land (Fig. 2). You may also have friends or neighbors willing to let you harvest from their land.
Figure 2. Livestakes being harvested from a black willow in Berkley County, SC, during the dormant season.
Photo Credit: Karen Jackson
Success rates for livestakes vary depending on species and site conditions.
Best Practices for Harvesting Livestakes
When harvesting livestakes, there are a few best practices to keep in mind that increase the success rate:
- Flag suitable species by late September, before leaves drop in October-November. They’re harder to identify without leaves!
- Do not take more than 5% of the branches from any source plant.
- Cut livestakes that are 2-3 feet long from branches that are 0.5-2 inches in diameter.
- Cut the end of the livestake closest to the plant’s main stem at a 45-degree angle to make it easier to drive into the ground during installation.
- Cut the end of the livestake furthest from the main stem flat, so you know which side of the livestake should face away from the ground.
- Install livestakes within a few days of harvesting.
- Keep your cut livestakes cool and moist while storing them. Wrap them in a wet towel or store them in a bucket with a few inches of water, angle-cut end in the water (fig. 3).
Figure 3. Livestakes stored in a bucket with water.
Katie Collins, ©2025, Clemson Extension
