A new method to regenerate plants from leaf primordia-free shoot apical meristem domes (LP-free SAMs) was developed by establishing the meristem dome on the cut surface of root tips. Ten days after culture, the viable rate of LP-free SAMs of chrysanthemum 'Piato' attached to chrysanthemum root tips was >40%. Shoot regeneration was not observed from LP-free SAMs without the root tips. When LP-free SAMs of chrysanthemum were transferred to root tips of either petunia, cabbage, or carnation, the highest shoot regeneration rate was observed with cabbage root tips. Microscopic observation documented that the LP-free SAM temporarily adhered to the cut surface of the root tip of cabbage.