Fruit Tree Rootstock Description

Note: Almost all fruit trees can be kept under 8 feet tall with summer pruning. Rootstocks are chosen based on how well they establish in our soils.

Betulaefolia (Asian Pears) Tolerant wet, dry and alkaline soil conditions. Very vigorous. 15-25 foot tall, if unpruned.

Calleryana (Asian Pears) Does well in warm winter and hot summer climates. Good for sandy or heavy soils. Heavy bearing at a young age. 15-20 foot tall, if unpruned.

Citation (Apricot, Aprium, Nectarine, NectaPlum, Peach, Plum, Cherry-Plum & Pluot) Very tolerant of wet soil. Resists root-knot nematodes. Induces heavy bearing at a young age. Will keep peaches and nectarines dwarfed to 8-14 foot tall and apricots & plums to 12-18 foot tall, if left unpruned.

Colt (Cherry) for sweet cherries. In heavy soils, trees are dwarfed to about 3/4 of standard size, or 22-30 foot tall if unpruned. Relatively tolerant of wet soil, but good drainage is still required. Apparently resistant to bacterial canker. Trees begin bearing at a young age.

D Lotus (Persimmon) will grow to 12-25 foot tall, if unpruned.

Lovell (Nectarine, Nectarine Dwf, Peach, Plum, Plum-Cot,& Almond) vigorous, more tolerant of wet soils than Nemaguard. 15-25 foot tall, if unpruned. Also used on genetic dwarf trees such as Nectarine, keeping them at 6 foot tall.

M-111 (Apple) excellent all around rootstock for apples. Induces bearing at a young age. Tolerates wet, dry and poor soil conditions. Resists woolly apple aphids and collar rot. 15-25 foot tall, if unpruned.

M-27 (Apple) extremely dwarfing rootstock for apples. Trees are dwarfed to 6-8 foot tall. Induces early and heavy bearing. Small root system, young trees need staking. Requires constant moisture. Ideal for small spaces in garden and container growing.

M-7 (Apple) Induces early and heavy bearing. Resists fireblight and powdery mildew. 12-20 foot tall, if unpruned. Good anchorage. Prone to suckering.

Mahaleb (Cherry) Sweet cherries are slightly dwarfed, 25-35 foot tall, if unpruned. Induces bearing at a young age. Resists crown gall, bacterial canker, and some nematodes. Not tolerant of wet soils

Marianna 26-24 (Apricot, Plums & Almonds) shallow root system, tolerant of wet soils. Resistant to oak-root fungus and root-knot nematodes. 15-20 foot tall, if unpruned.

Mazzard (Cherry) vigorous, more tolerant of wet soils than Mahaleb, but good drainage is still required. Resistant to root-knot nematodes and oak root fungus. 30-40 foot tall, if unpruned.

Myrobalan 29C  (Apricot, Aprium, Plum & Pluot) shallow but vigorous root system. Tolerates wet soils. Immune to root-knot nematodes, some resistance to oak-root fungus. 15-25 foot tall, if unpruned.

Nemaguard (Apricot, Aprium, Nectarine, Peach, Plum & Almond) vigorous, resistant to root-knot nematodes. Excellent rootstock for well-drained soils. In slower draining soils, plant on mound or berm. 15-25 foot tall, if unpruned.

OHxF333 (Pear & Asian Pear) widely adapted, disease resistant. 12-18 foot tall, if unpruned.

St. Julian (Apricot, Nectarine & Peach) semi-dwarf rootstock for cold areas with fluctuating spring temperatures due to inconsistent spring weather conditions.

Winter Nelis (Pear) for European and hybrid pears. Vigorous, relatively tolerant of wet soils. Resistant to oak-root fungus. Long lived trees reach 20-25 foot tall.