Propagation: Grafted trees - scion not supposed to grow its own roots?

Discussion in 'Ornamental Cherries' started by wcutler, May 11, 2017.

  1. wcutler

    wcutler Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator VCBF Cherry Scout 10 Years

    Messages:
    10,789
    Likes Received:
    2,225
    Location:
    Vancouver, BC Canada
    I wonder if I've been under a misconception about low grafting. I thought for cherry trees, and I don't know if this is general or applies particularly to cherries, it was advantageous to graft them below the surface so that they would grow their own roots. Not good?

    I have recently found some ornamental cherry trees ('Kanzan' and 'Shiro-fugen') with rootstock sucker growth of both the rootstock and the scion. Presumably, sucker growth is not desirable, but it does indicate that the scion roots are not fully inhibiting the rootstock.
     
  2. Junglekeeper

    Junglekeeper Esteemed Contributor 10 Years

    Messages:
    5,987
    Likes Received:
    608
    Location:
    Vancouver BC Canada
    From what I've read concerning citrus, the rootstock imparts qualities to the scion such as disease resistance, vigor, and dwarfing. To have the scion add its own roots would work against that.
     

Share This Page