Levels of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), free, conjugated, and bound polyamines (PAs), and phenols were estimated in the basal portion of hardwood cuttings ofVitis davidiiandV. kiusianain relation to rooting and compared withVitis labruscanaBailey cv. Campbell Early. A high rate of root formation was observed in ‘Campbell Early’ cuttings 60 days after planting. However, none of theV. davidiiandV. kiusianacuttings formed roots. An increase in IAA contents was observed in ‘Campbell Early’ cuttings, but not inV. davidiiandV. kiusiana, 60 days after planting. The content of free, conjugated, and bound PAs was either constant or decreased in ‘Campbell Early’ cuttings during planting and was especially decreased in conjugated putrescine and spermidine. An increase in free and conjugated putrescine was observed after planting inV. kiusianacuttings. In the cuttings ofV. davidii, only bound spermine increased after planting. The content of total phenols, orthodiphenols, total catechins, and gallocatechin derivatives decreased after planting in ‘Campbell Early’ cuttings. Orthodiphenols and total catechin contents increased in the cuttings ofV. kiusiana, and gallocatechin derivatives increased inV. davidii.The relationships between these endogenous factors and the recalcitrant-to-root features ofV. davidiiandV. kiusianacuttings are discussed.