About Mickey Mouse Plant Propagation
Mickey Mouse plant (Ochna serrulata), or carnival bush, is a semi-evergreen shrub to small tree that grows to about 4-8 feet (1-2.5 m.) in height and 3-4 feet (about a meter) across. Native to eastern South Africa, these plants are found in a variety of habitats, from forests to grasslands. The glossy, slightly serrated green leaves are accented with fragrant, yellow blooms from spring to early summer. These give way to fleshy, green fruit that, once mature, become black and are said to resemble the cartoon character, thus its name. The birds love eating the fruit and end up distributing the seed, so much so that the plant is considered invasive in some areas. You can also propagate the Mickey Mouse plant from seed or from cuttings.
How to Propagate a Mickey Mouse Bush
If you live in USDA zones 9-11, you can try propagating Mickey Mouse plants. If you decide to propagate from seed, use the freshest seeds available. The seeds do not keep at all, even if kept refrigerated. Pick ripe black fruit, clean them, then sow immediately in the spring. The seeds should germinate in around six weeks if temperatures are at least 60 F. (16 C.). Seeds can be difficult to come by as birds love the fruit. If you have little success obtaining fruit, the birds might just do the propagating for you. The other option is to take cuttings of Mickey Mouse for propagation. If you decide to try propagating via cutting, dip the cutting in a rooting hormone to give them a jump start. A misting system will also give them a boost. Keep the cuttings moist. Roots should develop about 4-6 weeks after cutting. Once roots appear, harden the plants off for a couple of weeks and then pot or transplant them to the garden in rich, well-draining soil.
