Burro's tail is Sedum morganianum, a trailing succulent in the stonecrop family (Crassulaceae). Labels may say donkey's tail, horse's tail, or lamb's tail, which NCSU and the RHS both list as common names for it. NCSU gives its origin as Mexico (Veracruz, Puebla, Chiapas), and Wisconsin Horticulture adds Honduras. Wisconsin says the stems grow upright at first and then hang, growing to four feet long and getting heavy with the water stored in the leaves. NCSU gives trailing stems up to 24 inches long. Wisconsin Horticulture notes that it received the RHS Award of Garden Merit in 1993.
Donkey's tail is also a common name for the hardy perennial Euphorbia myrsinites, a different plant (Wisconsin Horticulture). Check for the Latin name Sedum morganianum on the tag before you follow these steps. 'Burrito', also called baby burro tail, has smaller, more rounded, lime-green leaves on shorter stems. Wisconsin says it is unclear whether 'Burrito' is another species, a cultivar, or a hybrid, and NCSU lists it as a cultivar.
Can you propagate burro's tail? Yes, and easily. NCSU recommends division, leaf cuttings, and stem cuttings, and says cuttings and dropped leaves root easily. Wisconsin Horticulture says stem cuttings regrow a plant faster than leaves, and adds seed and division. The RHS plant profile lists seed and division, and its leaf-cuttings guide names Sedum morganianum among the tender sedums that grow from leaf cuttings. Iowa State says stem and leaf cuttings both work well for Sedum.
Start in a fast-draining mix with a callused piece. Iowa State says most succulents do not root well in a glass of water. Root rot from overwatering is the most common issue with this plant (Wisconsin Horticulture). For the methods burro's tail shares with other succulents, see how to propagate succulents. For how cuttings compare with division and seed in general, see plant propagation.
NCSU tags burro's tail as non-toxic for cats, dogs, and horses. Its edibility note says the stems and leaves can be eaten, but in large quantities can cause stomach upset.
Best way indoors
| Situation | Method | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A trailing stem you can cut | Stem cutting | Regrows a plant faster than leaves do (Wisconsin). Strip the lower leaves, let the cut dry, and push it into well-drained mix. It can take several months to root well. |
| Leaves that dropped or broke off | Leaf cutting | Dropped leaves root easily (NCSU). A whole leaf is needed (Iowa State), and a leaf takes longer than a stem to become a plant (Wisconsin). The RHS gives spring to early summer as the best time. |
| A crowded pot you can split | Division | NCSU recommends it, and Wisconsin and the RHS profile list it. None of the three gives division steps for this plant. |
| Seed | Seed | Sown at 15 to 18°C in early spring (RHS). |
| A glass of water | Not recommended | Most succulents do not root well in a glass of water (Iowa State). |
Stem cuttings
A stem cutting regrows a plant faster than a leaf does (Wisconsin Horticulture). Wisconsin gives the steps for this species, and Iowa State's succulent stem method, which it says works well for Sedum, adds a cutting length.
Wisconsin Horticulture (Susan Mahr)
Strip the leaves from the lower end of a cut stem. Let the cut end dry for a day or two, then push the stem end into a well-drained medium. Long or heavy cuttings may need pins or stakes to hold them in place until the roots can anchor the plant. It may take several months before the cutting roots well.
For the mix, Wisconsin uses cactus mix or regular potting mix with plenty of perlite, pumice, baked clay granules, or small pea gravel. It warns against sand, which fills the soil pores and hinders drainage. For pot size and moisture, see soil propagation.
On the parent plant, bare areas of stem where leaves are missing may produce branches (Wisconsin Horticulture).
NCSU stem cutting
NCSU recommends stem cuttings and says they root easily. Iowa State's succulent stem method, which it says works well for Sedum, uses a section 3 to 6 inches long cut with clean, sharp pruners or scissors. Take the leaves off the lower half and let the cut end callus for several days on a tray or plate, or hung in an empty pot or cup. Then set the cutting in a well-drained medium such as cactus potting soil or perlite. Most succulents root without rooting hormone, though it can sometimes speed things up. For the general succulent stem method, see how to propagate succulents.
Leaf cuttings
Dropped leaves root easily (NCSU), but a leaf takes longer than a stem cutting to grow into a full plant (Wisconsin Horticulture).
Wisconsin leaf cuttings
Roots form on individual leaves removed from the stem. Wisconsin says this route takes longer to regrow a plant than stem cuttings. Use leaves when they have already fallen, and take a stem cutting when you want a hanging plant sooner.
The leaves break off easily, and the silvery bloom on them rubs off when handled (Wisconsin Horticulture). Leaves that drop while you work are usable material, since NCSU says dropped leaves root easily.
NCSU leaf cutting
NCSU lists leaf cutting as a recommended method. Iowa State's succulent leaf method, which it says works well for Sedum, needs the entire leaf, including the cells that attached it to the stem, because those cells hold the tissue that makes new growth. Partial pieces of a leaf will not root. Lay the leaf flat on slightly damp, well-drained mix such as cactus potting soil, with the attached end resting at the surface and not covered. Keep the surface damp but not wet, for example with a spray bottle. New roots and leaves form in several weeks.
RHS Leaf cuttings (names Sedum morganianum)
The RHS names Sedum morganianum among the tender sedums that grow from leaf cuttings and gives spring to early summer as the best time. Its method for succulent leaves, given for Kalanchoe, Echeveria, and Crassula, is to leave them a day or two to callus, then insert them into pots filled three-quarters with two parts cactus compost to one part fine grit, topped with fine grit. Do not cover them. Keep them in a warm spot with good light, and keep the compost just slightly moist. For the full succulent leaf method, see how to propagate succulents.
Division and seed
NCSU recommends division, Wisconsin says the species can be grown from seed or divisions, and the RHS profile lists seed and division. None of the three describes how to divide burro's tail. For the general steps of splitting a pot, see how to divide houseplants.
The RHS sows seed at 15 to 18°C in early spring.
Light while propagating
Burro's tail grows best in bright light to full sun (Wisconsin Horticulture). NCSU says it prefers a high-light spot indoors, such as a windowsill with at least partial sun. The RHS puts succulent leaf cuttings in a warm spot with good light.
In too little light the internodes get longer, so the leaves sit less densely on the stem. In light that is too intense, the leaves bleach and turn yellowish instead of blue-green (Wisconsin Horticulture). Wisconsin also says plants moved outdoors in summer need to get used to the brighter light gradually, or they sunburn. To check a window, use the propagation light DLI calculator. If the window can't supply enough, see best grow lights for indoor propagation.
Troubleshooting
No roots after a few weeks. Wisconsin says a stem cutting may take several months to root well, so keep waiting. Check that the cut end dried before you stuck it and that long cuttings are pinned so they stay in place.
Mushy stem or leaf. Root rot from overwatering is the most common issue (Wisconsin Horticulture), and NCSU warns against wet or poorly drained conditions. Take a fresh cutting, let it callus, and keep the mix just slightly moist. A callused cut is less likely to rot before roots form (Iowa State).
A leaf that never sprouts. Iowa State says partial leaves will not root, because the new growth comes from the cells where the leaf joined the stem. Use whole leaves that came away cleanly.
Wilting or soft leaves on the parent. Wisconsin says this may mean too much soil moisture. Let the soil nearly dry out between waterings, and water less in fall and winter.
Leaves falling off while you work. The stems are brittle and the leaves break off easily (Wisconsin Horticulture, NCSU). Dropped leaves root easily (NCSU), so whole ones can go straight into leaf cuttings.
Stretched, sparse new growth. Too little light lengthens the internodes (Wisconsin Horticulture). Move the plant somewhere brighter.
Yellowish, bleached leaves. The light is too intense (Wisconsin Horticulture). Move the plant out of the harshest sun.
Common mistakes
- Rooting in a glass of water. Most succulents do not root well that way (Iowa State).
- Sticking a fresh, wet cut. Let it dry a day or two (Wisconsin) or several days (Iowa State).
- Using half a leaf. Partial leaves will not root (Iowa State).
- Burying or covering leaf cuttings. Set the attached end at the surface, uncovered (Iowa State).
- Keeping the mix wet. Root rot from overwatering is the most common issue (Wisconsin Horticulture).
- Adding sand for drainage. It fills the soil pores (Wisconsin Horticulture).
- Leaving long or heavy cuttings unpinned. They may need pins or stakes to stay in place (Wisconsin Horticulture).
- Giving up on a stem cutting after a few weeks. It can take several months (Wisconsin Horticulture).
- Following these steps for Euphorbia myrsinites, the other "donkey's tail".
People also ask
Can you propagate burro's tail?
Yes. NCSU recommends division, leaf cuttings, and stem cuttings, and says cuttings and dropped leaves root easily. Wisconsin Horticulture adds seed. A stem cutting gives a new hanging plant faster than a leaf.
Can I propagate burro's tail from a dropped leaf?
Yes, if the whole leaf came off cleanly. NCSU says dropped leaves root easily. Iowa State's method lays the leaf flat on slightly damp cactus soil with the attached end at the surface, and roots and leaves form in several weeks. A plant grows more slowly from a leaf than from a stem (Wisconsin Horticulture).
How do I take a stem cutting?
Cut a stem, strip the leaves from the lower end, and let the cut dry a day or two (Wisconsin Horticulture). Iowa State's succulent method uses a 3 to 6 inch section and lets it callus for several days. Push it into a well-drained mix and pin long or heavy cuttings until the roots anchor.
How long until a stem cutting roots?
Wisconsin Horticulture says it may take several months before plants root well. Keep the light bright and the mix barely moist while you wait.
Is water propagation the default?
No. Iowa State says most succulents do not root well in a glass of water, and Wisconsin names root rot from overwatering as the most common issue. Use a callused piece in a gritty mix.
Does the RHS profile disagree with stem and leaf cuttings?
No. The RHS plant profile lists seed and division, and the RHS leaf-cuttings guide names Sedum morganianum among the sedums that grow from leaf cuttings. NCSU and Wisconsin both recommend stem and leaf cuttings.
Is burrito the same plant?
It may not be. 'Burrito', or baby burro tail, has smaller, more rounded, lime-green leaves on shorter stems. Wisconsin Horticulture says it is unclear whether it is another species, a cultivar, or a hybrid, and NCSU lists it as a cultivar.
Is donkey's tail always burro's tail?
Not always. Donkey's tail, horse's tail, and lamb's tail are common names for Sedum morganianum, but donkey's tail is also used for the hardy Euphorbia myrsinites (Wisconsin Horticulture). Check the Latin name.
Do I need grow lights?
If the window is too dim. Burro's tail grows best in bright light to full sun (Wisconsin Horticulture), and too little light gives long gaps between leaves. Check the spot with the propagation light DLI calculator, and see best grow lights for indoor propagation if it falls short.
Stem cutting or leaf cutting?
Stem, if you want a hanging plant sooner. Wisconsin Horticulture says leaves take longer to regrow a plant. Use leaves when they have already dropped.
Keep reading
- How to propagate succulents for the shared leaf, stem, and offset methods
- Soil propagation for mix, moisture, and pot size
- Plant propagation for cuttings, division, and seed compared
- How to divide houseplants for splitting a crowded pot
- Propagation light DLI calculator to check a window
- Best grow lights for indoor propagation when the window is too dim