the hydranga may be rooted in water But the other two will not easly be rooted...... I have the best luck with all 3 species by taking the cuttings ...apply rooting hormone & stick in well drained soil.......misting the foliage.....

Thanks, that's good to know. I have started weigela in potting soil before. I will try that again.

I have hit and miss success with weigela in my cloner. The less water they get sprayed with, the faster and stronger they root. I also leave one leaf node exposed and make the cutting about 1/8" below that node. I use no hormones in the cloner.

Hydrangea roots easily in the cloner too, but I tend to lose about 1/2 when I move them to soil. The roots are very fine. It's best to use soil with these, I've found.

Never tried Smoke Bush.

Weigela and hydrangea are actually very easy to root without any equipment. You can do it by sticking 8 - 12 inch lengths into the ground in ashady place outdoors at almost anytime in the growing season, keeping them watered and waiting. Rooting compounds are not necessary but might help, I imagine. By next spring you will have young shrubs to plant out. I've never tried Cotinus.