Vegetative propagation, also known as vegetative reproduction or clonal propagation, is a form of asexual reproduction in plants where new individuals are generated from vegetative parts of the parent plant rather than from seeds. This method allows plants to reproduce without the need for pollination and fertilization, resulting in offspring that are genetically identical to the parent plant. Vegetative propagation is a common technique used in horticulture and agriculture for propagating plants with desirable traits. There are several methods of vegetative propagation:

1. Cuttings: In this method, a portion of a stem, leaf, or root (cutting) is removed from the parent plant and placed in a suitable growing medium. Roots and shoots develop from the cutting, eventually forming a new plant. Common plants propagated by stem cuttings include roses, geraniums, and many woody shrubs.
2. Layering: Layering involves bending a low-lying branch or stem of the parent plant and burying a portion of it in the soil while keeping the tip above ground. Roots develop at the buried portion, and a new plantlet forms. Once rooted, the new plant can be separated from the parent. Examples include air layering and simple layering.
3. Grafting: Grafting is a technique where the stem or bud of one plant (the scion) is attached to the rootstock (the base of another plant). This method is commonly used in fruit tree propagation and allows for the combination of the desirable characteristics of both the scion and the rootstock.
4. Division: Division involves splitting a mature plant into smaller sections, each of which can grow into a new plant. This method is used for plants that naturally produce clumps or offsets, such as hostas, irises, and many ornamental grasses.
5. Bulbs, Tubers, and Rhizomes: Plants like tulips, daffodils, and potatoes reproduce by forming underground storage structures (bulbs, tubers, and rhizomes) that can be planted to grow new plants.
6. Suckers and Runners: Some plants send out horizontal stems above or below the ground (suckers and runners, respectively) that develop into new plants. Strawberries and some types of bamboo are examples of plants that propagate this way.

Vegetative propagation is advantageous for several reasons. It allows for the rapid production of plants with known characteristics, maintains the genetic makeup of the parent plant, and can be used to preserve the traits of cultivars or varieties that may not come true from seed. Additionally, it is a useful method for plants that do not produce viable seeds or are difficult to propagate from seeds.