Effects of Alar, Ancymidol, and Cycocel on the rooting characteristics were studied on cutting so fGardenia jasminoides, Duranta repens, and Bougainville glabra. Alar and Ancymidol produced a greater number of adventitio us roots in gardenia b u t n o t in duranta cuttings. The mo st significant results were o b ta in ed with Alar and Ancymidol at 2 5 0 0 p pm and 2 0 0 p pm respectively. The roots of Ancym idol-treated gardenia cuttings were observed to be more fib ro u s and thinner whilst those o f bougainville cu ttin g s were larger in size. Cucocel a t 25000 ppm seems to have a inhibitory e ffe c t on root form a tionin gardenia cuttings. R o o t growth and rooting percentage of the three species studied were not affected by the g rowth retardants.