Fruit tree rootstocks and tree sizes

Left to its own devices an apple tree grown from a pip or seed will reach a height of 15ft - 20ft / 5m - 6m or so. Pear, plum and cherry trees could be even taller. Such large trees look majestic in a traditional orchard, but are not very productive, and since most of the fruit is out of reach, they are difficult to harvest. They are also far too big for most gardens. For this reason most fruit trees are grafted on to the roots or "rootstock" of related species which help to keep the size of the tree down to more manageable proportions. The rootstock is therefore an important factor when choosing a new fruit tree for your garden.

The following table lists the various roostocks we use, and their advantages and disadvantages.

Rootstock	Mature height	Spacing	Tree forms	Notes
Rootstocks for Apple trees
M27	Very small: 1.5m - 2m	1.2m apart e.g. 5 trees in 7m	Small centre leader Pyramid Step-over Patio containers	Permanent stake required. Watering and feeding required. Ground around the tree should be kept weed-free (e.g. mulched). Usually starts bearing crops and reaches full size within 2-3 years.
M9	Small: 1.8m - 2.5m	2.5m between trees	Ideal for small centre leader (spindlebush) styles Oblique cordons	Permanent stake required. Watering and feeding required. Ground around the tree should be kept weed-free (e.g. mulched). Apple trees on M9 are very productive and come into bearing within 2-3 years of planting, the tree reaches full size after about 5 years. The fruit size is sometimes slightly larger than on other rootstocks. An excellent choice for the smaller garden in most parts of the UK. One of the most widely-used rootstocks in commercial apple orchards.
M26	Medium: 2.2m - 3m	3m or more between trees	Bush Large cordon Small fan or Espalier	Can be treated as a small MM106 in most respects. Will need a permanent stake in lighter soils. Not suitable for damp soils.
MM111/M9	Medium: about 3m	3m + (12ft) between trees	Bush	By adding an interstem of M9 on top of the MM111 rootstock it is possible to produce a free-standing tree which needs little looking after (because of the vigorous MM111 rootstock which is suitable for almost any soil conditions) but with the precocity, disease resistance, and smaller size of M9. The resulting tree does not need staking, fruits early in its life (depending on the scion variety) and is similar to M26 in overall size. Unfortunately the need for two grafts makes interstem trees more expensive, and the mature height can be quite variable because it depends on the length of the interstem material.
M116	Large: 2.5m - 4m	3.5m between trees	Bush Fan or Espalier Half-standard traditional tree	M116 was developed in the 1960s but has only recently been taken up by growers. It can be used as an alternative to MM106. It produces a tree which is slightly smaller than MM106, but capable of producing the same quantity of apples. Use a temporary oblique stake for first few years if in an exposed situation, but does not require a permanent stake. It is a better choice than MM106 for wet sites.
MM106	Large: 2.5m - 4.5m	3.5m-4m between trees	Bush Fan or Espalier Half-standard traditional tree	The best choice for a good sized apple tree, especially if you just want to plant the tree and let it get on with it - does not require much looking after and tolerates low vegetation around it once established. Susceptible to collar rot on wet sites. Use a temporary oblique stake for first few years if in an exposed situation, but does not require permanent staking. Comes into fruit-bearing after 3-4 years.
MM111	Full size: 3.5m - 4.5m	4m-5m between trees	Half-standard Standard Large Fan or Espalier	Produces a tree somewhat larger than MM106. Noted for its good drought tolerance and ability to grow on difficult soils. Comes into fruit-bearing after 4-5 years and reaches full size after about 10 years. We also use this rootstock for many of our Crab apple trees (which will usually produce blossom from 2-3 years).
M25	Full size: 4.5m+	6m - 7m between trees	Standard apple trees	Produces a traditional large apple tree. Comes into bearing after 3-5 years.
Malus seedling	Full size: 4.5m+	6m - 7m between trees	Standard apple trees	We sometimes use Antonovka or Bittenfelder seedlings as rootstocks for full-size Crab apples. These produce a traditional large apple tree. Comes into bearing after 5+ years.
Rootstocks for Pear trees
Quince C	Medium: 2.5-3m	2.5m apart	Bush Cordon Small Fan or Espalier	Produces the smallest available pear trees and therefore the best choice for small gardens. Permanent stake or other support required. Ground around the tree should be kept weed-free (e.g. mulched). Comes into bearing after 3-4 years.
Quince Eline	Medium: 2.5-3m	2.5m apart	Bush Cordon Small Fan or Espalier	A new rootstock for pears and quinces, with similar vigour to the Quince C rootstock, but much more cold-hardy. Permanent stake or other support required. Ground around the tree should be kept weed-free (e.g. mulched). Comes into bearing after 3-4 years.
Quince A	Large: 3m-3.5m	3.5m apart	Bush Large cordon Large Fan or Espalier	The best general-purpose rootstock for pears. Produces a tree which is similar or slightly smaller in size than the apple MM106 rootstock. Comes into bearing after 4-5 years.
BA29	Large: 3.5m	3.5m apart	Bush Large cordon Large Fan or Espalier	BA29 produces a tree about 10% larger than the Quince A rootstock, and can be used for similar purposes. Comes into bearing after 4-5 years.
Pyrodwarf	Large: 4m+	4m apart	Half-standard Large Fan or Espalier	Don't let the 'dwarf' in the title mislead you, as Pyrodwarf is a vigorous rootstock - essentially a dwarf form of the very vigorous seedling pear rootstock. It produces a tree which is noticeably larger than on Quince A - similar to or a bit larger than MM111 apple rootstock. Comes into bearing after 4-5 years, which is quite precocious for a rootstock of this vigour class. Pyrodwarf is popular in warmer climates because of its good fireblight resistance. It is also more tolerant of growing on chalky / alkaline soils than the quince rootstocks.
*Pyrus communis*	Full size: 6m+	6m-7m apart	Standard	Pyrus communis is a seedling pear rootstock, and produces a traditional free-standing tree. We mostly use the 'Kirchensaller' form, which is more uniform than some other seedling rootstocks. Comes into bearing after 8-10 years - hence the old saying ""plant pears for your heirs"".
Rootstocks for Plums, Gages, Damsons, Mirabelles
Pixy	Medium: 2.5-3m	3m between trees	Bush Small Fan	A good choice for plum trees in a small garden. Produces a tree roughly equivalent to the apple M26 rootstock in size. Requires a stake for at least the first 4-5 years, possibly permanently. Watering and feeding required. Ground around the tree should be kept weed-free (e.g. mulched). Comes into bearing after 3-4 years. It is important to thin crops on this rootstock otherwise fruit size can be small.
Krymsk 1 / VVA-1	Medium: 2.5-3m	3m between trees	Bush Small Fan	VVA-1 (also known as Krymsk 1) is a new rootstock for plum trees, increasingly used by commercial growers and set to replace Pixy. It produces a tree with similar proportions to Pixy, but sometimes with better fruit size. It also comes out of dormancy more reliably than Pixy.
Plumina	Medium: 2.5-3m	3m between trees	Bush Small Fan	Produces a tree with a similar size to the Pixy rootstock, but with better fruit size.
Wavit	Large 3m	3,5m between trees	Bush Central leader Large Fan	Produces a free-standing tree, similar or slightly smaller than St. Julien. Slightly more precocious than St. Julien - comes into bearing in the 3rd or 4th year
Weiwa	Large 3m	3.5m between trees	Bush Central leader Large Fan	Produces a free-standing tree, similar to Wavit.
St. Julien A	Large: 3m-3.5m	3.5m-4m between trees	Bush Central leader Half-standard Large Fan	The most widely-planted general-purpose plum rootstock in the UK, suitable for both free-standing trees and fans. Produces a tree which is roughly comparable in size to the apple MM106 rootstock. Comes into bearing after 3-5 years. This rootstock is also widely used for apricots, peaches and nectarines.
Jaspi	Large: 3m-3.5m	3.5m-4m between trees	Bush Central leader Half-standard Large Fan	A relatively new rootstock for plums, similar in vigour to St. Julien A, but with better tolerance of standing water.
Brompton	5m+	7m between trees	Standard	Brompton is the best choice if you want a traditional large standard plum tree.
Rootstocks for Cherry trees
Gisela 5	Medium: 2.5-3m	3m between trees	Bush Small Fan	The best choice for growing a cherry tree in the garden. Comes into bearing after 3-4 years. Likely to require staking for at least 5 years. Ground around the tree should be kept weed-free (e.g. mulched). Roughly equivalent to the apple M26 rootstock.
Gisela 6	Large: 3m-4m	3m between trees	Bush Fan	Similar to Gisela 5, but produces a larger tree, and does not require such good soil conditions. Roughly equivalent to the apple MM106 rootstock.
Krymsk 5	Large: 3m-4m	3m between trees	Bush Fan	Similar to Gisela 6, but more cold-hardy, and less likely to cause over-cropping.
Colt	Large: 3.5m-4.5m	4m - 5m between trees	Bush Half-standard Large Fan	Roughly equivalent to the apple MM111 rootstock and a good choice for larger gardens and traditional orchards.
F12/1	Full size: 6m or more	6m between trees	Standard	F12/1 is a seedling cherry rootstock, sometimes known as Mazzard. Comes into full production after about 7 years, and eventually becomes a large standard tree.
Rootstocks for Peaches, Nectarines, Apricot trees
Wavit	Medium: 3m	3.5m between trees	Bush Fan	Primarily a rootstock for plums, but also works well for apricots, peaches, and nectarines.
Torinel	Large: 3m-3.5m	3.5m - 4m between trees	Bush Half-standard Fan	Similar in most respects to the St. Julien A rootstock but has better disease resistance and tolerance of waterlogging. Torinel can also be used for plums.
Apricor	Large: 3m-3.5m	3.5m - 4m between trees	Bush Half-standard Fan	As the name suggests this rootstock is used exclusively for apricots - it is an apricot seedling so compatibility is very good. Vigour is similar to the St. Julien A rootstock.
Krymsk 86	Large 3.5m-4m	4m between trees	Bush, Half-standard, Fan	This is a semi-vigorous cold-hardy peach / plum hybrid rootstock, which can also be used for almonds. It has a wide-spreading root system.

Age at which the tree will start to bear fruit

The information in the table above is based on age of the tree, not the age when you plant it. Thus if you buy a 2 year old tree, and the likely bearing age is 3-4 years, in theory you will only have to wait 1-2 years to get some fruit. However the age at which a tree starts to bear is not just determined by the rootstock, but also by the variety, and the conditions where you plant it and the way you start to train it - so you may be pleasantly surprised or you may have to wait longer than you expected! It is also worth noting that 1-year trees generally suffer less of a check to growth when transplanted from the nursery to your garden than 2-year old trees.