As the name indicates, rootstocks are the root portion of a grafted tree, and they control the mature size of a tree, certain disease qualities, adaptability to soils, and years to bearing, all relative to the cultivar grafted on top. It is easy to understand rootstock choices as giving you a small (dwarf), medium (semi-dwarf), and large (full size) tree, but the rootstock does more than just that, and the discerning grower will also recognize that rootstock inherently limits the nutrients a tree can update (thus dwarfing it). 

The primary difference between the different rootstocks is size. Generally, dwarf trees will reach up to 50% of the height of a full-size tree and semi-dwarf trees will reach up to 75% of that height. In regards to apples, for example, dwarf trees generally reach 8-10ft, semi-dwarf trees 12-15ft, and full-size trees 15-20ft. 

Each type has pros and cons, and within each type of rootstock there are variations which are briefly described below. For general purpose apple orchards, we recommend sticking with semi-dwarf trees if you have the space.

See also 'Rootstocks' in our grafting section.

A brief overview of the apple rootstocks we grow with:

M9: dwarf, hardy to zone 4, popular rootstock in large scale orchards but v. susceptible to fireblight. Requires permanent staking, suitable for espalier.
B9: dwarf, v. cold hardy, resistant to fireblight and collar rot, precocious, minimal suckering, good graft compatibility. Suitable for espalier. Requires permanent staking.
Ottawa 3: dwarf, v. cold hardy, vigorous, resistant to collar rot, susceptible to fireblight. Suitable for espalier. Requires permanent staking.
Emla 26: large dwarf/small semi-dwarf. Very precocious, suitable for espalier, popular in Southern ON, but not particularly cold hardy. Resistant to collar rot, but susceptible to fireblight. Doesn’t require permanent staking on sheltered sites.
Emla 106: semi-dwarf, nice balance of vigor and production, some susceptibility to moisture/collar rot, generally well suited to most soil types, well-anchored, hardy to zone 4. Our go-to rootstock.
Emla 7: small semi-dwarf, poor anchoring, well adapted to different soil, fireblight resistant.
Emla 111: large semi-dwarf, well anchored, adaptable to different soils.
B118: large semi-dwarf, v. cold hardy and vigorous, moderate resistance to crown rot and fireblight, poor graft compatibility.
Antonovka: full size, v. vigorous, the standard seedling rootstock, used in Russia for over 500 years. Due to its uncanny ability to stay very close to true when propagated by seed it produces a strong, deep root system (creating a drought tolerant, hardy tree).

General Size Guidelines by Species

Apples:

  • Dwarf: 8-10ft
  • Semi-Dwarf: 12-15ft
  • Full-Size: 15-20ft

Apricots: 20-30ft

Peaches: 16-20ft

Pears:

  • Dwarf: 10-12ft
  • Semi-Dwarf: 12-15ft
  • Full-Size: 18-20ft

Plums: 16-20ft

Quince: 12-15ft

Sour Cherries: 16ft

Sweet Cherries: 20-25ft

Visit each species page or cultivar listing for the current seasons rootstock availability. 

Very few of our trees are available on all three sizes of rootstock. If you check our catalogue, either the variety description or the description for each species of tree will let you know what rootstock a given tree is grafted onto. 

Most of our apple trees are grafted onto dwarf and semi-dwarf rootstock. A few may be only available on dwarf or semi-dwarf rootstock and we have a small number of varieties available on full-size (aka standard) rootstock.

Pears are primarily grown on full-size rootstock but there are a few varieties available as dwarf and semi-dwarf trees. 

Our stone fruits are available on a mix of semi-dwarf and full-size rootstock.

Natural Vigour & Precocity - Mother Nature is like the English Language: full of contradictions! 

In some cases, specific varieties like Compact Stella sweet cherries or Meteor sour cherries naturally stay at a smaller size regardless of what rootstock they are on. This is related to 'vigour' in a tree. Low vigour trees naturally stay compact, and may come into production sooner with this trait... but not always! The ability to bear fruit at a young age is called 'precocity', and this is another trait independent of the rootstock.