how to  ⏵  Rootstock Basics

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Rootstock basics: Fruit and Nut

This page is for your information only - we do not sell rootstock. 

Fruit and nut cultivars are grafted or budded onto a rootstock to promote quality, healthy trees, early fruiting and efficiency of fruit production. Root stock are used to control the height and longevity of the trees, assist with pest and disease resistance and help the trees thrive in a range of growing conditions. 

Fruit trees may be grown from pips or stones, but generally they will not produce fruit for 7 – 10 years if at all and they will often grow into very tall, spindly trees. 

Double and Triple grafted trees are available for some fruits – these trees are grown to assist pollination, meaning that you only require one tree.

Grafts are also used to "dwarf" the size of a tree, true Dwarf cultivars are different as shown on our website, Dwarfing rootstock will inhibit the plant from growing to its potential full height. 
PLUMS  
Myrobalan MB
Controls height to approximately 4-5m, tolerant of wet and heavy soils, keeps tree size and crop size uniform, adaptable and hardy
Golden Queen GQ
Tolerant of a wide variety of soils - prefers well drained soils, drought tolerant, shows good disease resistance Proven and known performance, consistent
Marianna Semi Dwarf MA
- Controls height to approximately 3.5m, tolerant of heavy soils, shows good disease resistance
St Julian Semi Dwarf SJ
 Controls height to 4-5m, good for colder areas or inconsistent climatic conditions, can stand on its own roots - no staking

PEACHES AND NECTATRINES 
Golden Queen GQ
Tolerant of a wide variety of soils - prefers well drained soils, drought tolerant, shows good disease resistance Proven and known performance, consistent

APPLES - The lower the number the smaller the plant
M27 
Extremely dwarfed, height 1.2-1.8m, small fruit size. Support required.
M9 
Dwarfing, height 1.8-2.4m, tolerates variable/heavy soil conditions. Support required 
M26 
Dwarfing, height 2.4-3m, used for high density planting, not suitable for poorly drained soils.  Support required.
MM102 
Semi-dwarfing, height 2.7 - 3m, good for replant sites and wet soils, good disease resistance, grows trees with low branch angle.  Can be freestanding but support suggested.
MM116 
10% smaller that MM106, plants reach 3.30 – 3.50m, Similar vigour to MM106, High disease resistance. Support when young.
MM106 
Semi-dwarfing, height 3-4m x 4m, plant in wide range of soils but not heavy clay, doesn't sucker, good pest resistance, heavy cropping, moderate vigour. Support when young.
M793
Large trees 4-6m, adaptive to wide range of soil types. Suitable for replant sites and clay soil.  Support when young.

APRICOT
Myrobalan MB
Controls height to approximately 4-5m, tolerant of wet and heavy soils, keeps tree size and crop size uniform, adaptable and hardy

CRABAPPLE 
MM102
Semi Dwarfing height 2.7 - 3m, good for replant sites and wet soils, good disease resistance.  Grows trees with low branch angle.  Can be freestanding but support suggested.

PEARS AND QUINCE
QuinceA QuA
Semi dwarf, semi vigorous to height 3-4.5 m, good resistance to pests and disease, tolerates most soil conditions  
QuinceC QuC 
Dwarfing, height 2.5 - 3m, Good tolerance to pests and disease.  Less resistant to wet soil conditions than QuA or BA29.  Support required
BA29 
Pear semi dwarf, high yield, drought and cold tolerant. Good resistance to pest and disease.
Pyrus Calleryana PC
Promotes early optimum fruiting, vigorous, good disease resistance. 
Pyrus Communis CM
Non-dwarfing, vigorous, good disease resistance

CITRUS
Trifoliata TF
Improves yield and fruit quality. Good tolerance to pests and disease
Flying Dragon FD
Dwarfing by approx. one third.

AVOCADO
Zutano ZU
Proven for NZ conditions. High fruit yield, good disease resistance, tolerant most soil conditions. Require careful handling.  Support while young. 

CHERRY
Colt CT 
Vigorous growth to 5-6 metres. Tolerates most soils, good disease resistance. 
Edabriz EZ
Dwarfing to 2-3 metres. Good disease resistance. 
Edabriz interstem EZI
Colt / Edabriz mix. Tolerates most soils, dwarfing to 3-4 metres. Vigorous 

WALNUTS
Juglans Regia JR  
Improves nut quality and flavour for eating, good consistent yields, tolerates most NZ soil conditions. Good disease resistance.  






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HL Nurseries Limited t/a Wairere Nursery
826 Gordonton Road, R D 1, Hamilton 3281 Ph: (07) 824 3430 Email: