Yes, it's possible to mail unrooted cuttings. The key is to keep them moist. Get your names and addresses of who would like some first and then cut, wrap in damp newspaper and mail them as soon as possible. They should be fine. I wish I had a space where I could let something that big grow!

Seil's operative word is DAMP. Squeeze as much liquid water from the toweling or newspaper you use as possible. If you can still squeeze dripping water from it, it's still too wet. All it takes is humidity in the plastic bag you seal them in so the bag has humid air. Liquid water inside a plastic bag will cause them to rot faster. You will want to use enough damp paper to prevent the prickles from puncturing the plastic bag and releasing the humidity.

I use enough sheets of newspaper to give a thick layer of it around the cuttings so the prickles don't poke through. I wet it thoroughly in a bucket of water, then fold or roll it so I can wring it out thoroughly. You are going to get newsprint ink all over your hands and rubber gloves make it harder as they wad up with the paper. Dawn dishwashing liquid releases the black ink from your skin perfectly. If you don't have Dawn, use hand cream rubbed in all over your hands, then wash them with whatever you like to use. The lanolin in the skin cream breaks up the ink like Dawn does.

Choose the box you intend to use before cutting your material. If you go to the post office, you can pick up FREE Priority Mail boxes. If you're sending up to six or so, shorter (five or so inch long) cuttings, a small Flat Rate is fine. For more material or longer pieces, you want a medium box. Allow for the packing to have room and that will show you how long and how many pieces you may cut to fit inside the box. I suggest using Flat Rate, which can be a bit more expensive than standard Priority, because it is VERY easy to finish with a package weighing more than the cut off point where standard is less expensive than Flat Rate. A medium sized Flat Rate box goes anywhere in the country for a bit less than $13. I understand the rates changed in the past week or so and I haven't mailed any cuttings in that time, so I'm not sure exactly what they are, but I know it's less than $13 for a medium box. It is VERY easy to finish with a medium sized box, not Flat Rate, costing $18. I've done it. I've also sent books in a medium Priority box which WOULD have cost $29, but shipped in the Flat Rate box for $12.35. It CAN make huge differences in prices.

Once you know how much you are going to send and how large they should be cut to fit the box you've selected, unfold and make the box. Write your address label (also free from the Post Office) and set aside. Moisten your paper and wring it out. As it's hot and dry here, I leave it wadded up from being wrung out, inside a produce bag from the grocery store (I buy LOTS of produce always keep the clean bags for reuse) so it doesn't dry out while I'm harvesting and preparing cuttings. I use the dirty water in the bucket to water something, then refill with clean water to drop the cuttings in as I harvest them. Once I have what I want, I'll take the cuttings to where the box and paper await (usually in the front walled garden here where the afternoons have it in the cooler shade), decide how much foliage I want to leave on the cuttings, then place the plant label with them, written in # 2 pencil as all ink types wash off with humidity or water. I unfold the damp paper as flat as I can so I can place the cuttings in the center then fold it up like a burrito. You want the ends insulated so they don't poke through the paper and plastic bags, allowing the moisture inside to escape. You also want enough material around the prickles to protect the bag from them. As you've cut your material to fit inside the selected box, with the packaging, you can wrap the cuttings in your damp paper, pretty much as tightly as you wish, then insert into a plastic bag. I use the clean produce bags for this, too. I'll slip the damp paper bundle inside, gently squeeze out the excess air and tie it closed. I will often put each bag inside a second, third, even fourth produce bag, repeating the air squeezing for each so they are well protected against moisture loss from prickle punctures. That also helps provide light weight packing around the bundle inside the box. Once you're comfortable they are securely sealed in enough paper and plastic, put them in the box and use whatever you have that's light weight and readily available (newspaper, more produce bags, etc.) to provide just enough support so the bundle doesn't shake around inside, providing more opportunity for the prickles to be forced through the bags. You don't need to firmly pack it as you would something breakable, just enough to keep it from banging around like tennis shoes in the drier.

Seal it, affix your address label and hit the post office. In my experience, in most cases, Priority Mail will get them almost anywhere in the country in 48 hours. The worst I've experienced in recent years has taken 72 hours within the US, as long as they are sent Priority. I've packaged bud wood to send overseas as I've described. That took 8 days using Priority from California to The Netherlands, but domestic mail is most often two to three days, unless something really strange happens. The budwood in that packing for 8 days was said to have arrived as fresh as if it had just been cut. I've not had any adverse issues with leafed cuttings sent as I've described. I HAVE received boxes of rotten, slimy stuff in just two days in the mail which had a LOT of liquid water inside. Those suffered a complete failure. Those received with DAMP, no dripping water, packing have all succeeded. It does make a huge difference. I also try to get cuttings in the mail on Monday or Tuesday so they are received before the weekend. I don't want them sitting somewhere the extra day over a Sunday, when they could have already been planted.

Priority Mail also includes tracking at no charge. You can set up tracking so both you and the recipient can receive text or email notices as the package clears each stage of its travel. You have to wait until it is entered in to the USPS system, usually by 5 PM the day you mail it, to set tracking. Go to USPS.Com and follow the instructions for "track package". You will need your receipt from the post office as your LONG tracking number is printed on it.

Sharing cuttings, hopefully with a few people so you hedge your bets and spread around the risk (not putting all of your eggs in one basket), should provide you with a new, small plant once you're settled and ready to plant in the new place. It is WAY easier, and probably potentially more successful than attempting to dig up and drag a "cathedral eater" to a new location. And, it is a LOT more fun! By sharing cuttings with multiple people, you almost always have a source for replacement plants should something happen to yours. I have long spread roses around I really wanted, both because I enjoy spreading the enjoyment, but also so I could beg pieces back should something (gophers, rabbits, irrigation failures, theft, careless feet, freezes, etc., it's always something!) happen to mine. Good luck and have fun! Kim

Thanks so much, siel and kim for the help! Great instructions! It did dawn on me that I might not have any takers on the musk rose considering its size. The place we are moving to is much bigger so providing my cuttings do well I will probably have two or three which will make spring fun ;)

You're welcome! I hope it helps and you enjoy several large Musks in the new place. Good luck! Kim