Pear Rootstock

Looking to graft your own pear trees? We're happy to offer rootstock!

While we have young stool beds growing, in the meantime we import rootstock from Oregon. Aside from the headache (paperwork) of importing and distance, we are very happy with our suppliers quality, and are happy to offer small scale and backyard operations with rootstock. Every August, we prepare a rootstock order for the following spring, and our order comes up on the pool truck with all the other Ontario orders. Because of this, we aren't able to guarantee ship dates with rootstock orders, as we are at the mercy of the nursery and pool truck; the shipment typically comes in March-April.

If you require more than 1000 rootstocks, we recommend importing yourself.

We offer the following rootstock:

Provence Quince - Dwarf (see the quince rootstock listing HERE to purchase)

• History: Provence Quince is a quince rootstock that was selected by the Institute National de la Recherche Agronomique's Angers station in France. It was released in the 1960s and became especially popular in Europe in the 1980s and 1990s.
• Why We Use It: Provence Quince is easy to propagate and has decent vigour. Although it is incompatible with certain pear varieties, the issue can be overcome with the use of an interstem.
• Canadian Hardiness Zone: 5
• Growth Habits: Dwarf, reaches about 10-15ft tall, precocious, produces good crops
• Disease Resistance: Resistant to crown gall, pear decline, and nematodes but somewhat susceptible to fireblight
• Graft Compatibility: Compatible with most European pears (except Bartlett, Bosc, Seckel and a few others), quince, and loquats

OHxF 87 - Semi-Dwarf

• History: Old Home x Farmingdale 87 is part of the OHxF series that was developed by F.E. Reimer at Oregon State University in an effort to create fireblight resistant rootstock. Two fireblight resistant varieties, Old Home and Farmingdale, were bred to pass the resistance on to their seedlings, hence the name. OHxF 87 in particular was selected for its good productivity. 
• Why We Use It: A popular choice among the OHxF series, this semi-dwarf rootstock boasts high productivity and a good root system. 
• Canadian Hardiness Zone: 4
• Growth Habits: Semi-dwarf, reaches 12-18ft, precocious and very productive, cold hardy, produces a good root system
• Disease Resistance: Resistant to fireblight and soil diseases
• Graft Compatibility: Compatible with European pears and Asian pears, though some resources say Asian pears tend not to live as long on this rootstock.

OHxF 97 - Full Size

• History: Old Home x Farmingdale 97 is part of the OHxF series that was developed by F.E. Reimer at Oregon State University in an effort to create fireblight resistant rootstock. Two fireblight resistant varieties, Old Home and Farmingdale, were bred to pass the resistance on to their seedlings, hence the name. 
• Why We Use It: OHxF 97 is our go-to pear rootstock with its fireblight resistance, strong root system, and good vigour and productivity. Its compatibility with European and Asian pears makes it extra versatile, a feature we value with our large array of pear varieties.
• Canadian Hardiness Zone: 4
• Growth Habits: Full-size, reaches 16-20ft, cold hardy, strong root system, produces good crops, vigorous, moderately precocious
• Disease Resistance: Resistant to pear decline and fireblight
• Graft Compatibility: Compatible with all European and Asian pears

Pyrus betulifolia - Full Size

• History: Pyrus betulifolia (aka birchleaf pear) is native to parts of China and Tibet. This thorny cousin of the pear trees we grow is commonly used as rootstock for Asian pears.
• Why We Use It: Pyrus betulifolia is a vigorous and adaptable pear rootstock, compatible with both European and Asian pears. It is also a very thorny variety, making it useful for deterring critter damage on the rootstock. 
• Canadian Hardiness Zone: 4
• Growth Habits: Full-size, produces Asian pears 15-20ft tall and European pears over 30ft, vigorous, highly adaptable to different soils, very thorny
• Disease Resistance: Resistant to fireblight and pear decline
• Graft Compatibility: Compatible with European pears and Asian pears

If any varieties you are interested in have sold out, contact us to be added to our Spring 2026 request list!