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Rootstocks for apple trees
Most apple trees are produced by grafting the required variety (the "scion") on to a rootstock.
The main reason for doing this is because the the natural vigour (from low to high) of the
rootstock helps to control the size of the mature apple tree. However rootstocks also confer other
advantages and disadvantages.
The following table lists apple rootstocks in approximate ascending order of vigour with an
indication of the size of the mature apple tree.
Very Small
(Very-dwarf)
Small
(Dwarf)
Medium
(Semi-dwarf)
Large
(Semi-vigorous)
Very Large
(Vigorous)
P22
M27
G65
G11
M9
G16
Bud. 9
Mark
M26
G935
G202
G30
MM102
Interstems
M7
M116
MM106
MM111
Bud. 118
M25
6ft / 2m 8ft / 2.5m 10ft / 3m 14ft / 4m 18ft / 5m

The table should not be taken too literally. Whilst the rootstock is important, the mature height of
an apple tree is also affected by numerous other factors. Furthermore, although we have created
discrete size bands for convenience, in practice the performance of different rootstocks overlaps
considerably.

P22(Very small)
Used commercially on a small scale, produces an extremely compact tree, the same size or
smaller than M27, and with better cold-hardiness.
Mature height: 1.5m - 2m
Age starts fruiting: 2 years
Spacing: 1.2m apart
Staking: Permanent stake required
Good features:
Good cold-hardiness
Some resistance to phytophora (crown / collar rot)
Problems:
Some susceptibility to fireblight
Susceptible to woolly aphid
Some resistance to mildew
Suitable forms: Small centre leader, Pyramid, Step-over, Patio-container tree
Requirements:
Regular irrigation and feeding required
Ground around the tree should be kept weed-free (e.g. mulched).
M27(Very small)
An excellent rootstock for the enthusiast who wants to plant a lot of apple varieties in a small
space - performs very well provided attention is paid to soil and watering.
Age starts fruiting: 2 years
Spacing: 1.2m apart, e.g. 5 trees in 7m
Good features:
Resistant to collar-rot
Problems:
Fruit size can be small - counter by thinning
Very susceptible to fireblight
Susceptible to mildew
Not cold-hardy for northern North American conditions
Suitable forms: Small centre leader, Pyramids, Step-overs, Patio-container tree
Requirements:
G65(Very small)
Developed specifically for North American conditions, with good resistance to fireblight and
collar-rot. G65 is derived from the M27 rootstock crossed with a Beauty crab apple, and
produces a tree the same size or marginally larger than M27.
Age starts
fruiting:
2 years
Spacing: 1.2m apart, e.g. 5 trees in 7m
Good features: Resistant to collar-rot
Very resistant to fireblight
If allowed to grow as a regular tree, G65 becomes a small shrub-like
ornamental crab apple, with pink/white flowers and red fruits.
Suitable forms: Small centre leader, Pyramids, Step-overs, Patio-container tree
Requirements:
Bud.9(Small)
An excellent alternative to M9, with very similar characteristics, perhaps marginally less
vigorous. Can 'runt out' and stop growing in some situations, but unsurpassed for winter
hardiness in this class.
Mature height: 1.8m - 2.5m
Age starts
fruiting:
2-3 years
Spacing: 2.5m between trees
Good features:
Some resistance to fireblight (better than M9)
Resists collar-rot
The most cold-hardy M9-class rootstock
Problems:
Sandy soils
Slightly susceptible to wooly aphid
Suitable forms: Small centre leader / Spindlebush, Small bush tree, Oblique cordon
Requirements:
Watering and feeding required
Always make sure the tree achieves its full size before allowing it to
crop
M9(Small)
M9 was the first standardized rootstock available on a large scale, released by East Malling
Research Station in the 1920s, with a lineage going back to the 'Paradise' rootstocks used for
many centuries in Europe.
M9 is probably the most widely-planted of all rootstocks, and the mainstay of commercial apple
production. There are a very large number of clones of M9, with varying qualities and vigours.
Its only real disadvantage is that it is very susceptible to fireblight, which is endemic to some
parts of North America.
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.
M9 is also an excellent choice for the smaller garden or community orchard.
Age starts
fruiting:
2-3 years
Good features:
Encourages large fruit size
Resists phytophora (collar-rot and crown-rot) - M9 is by far the most
resistant of the Malling and Malling-Merton series rootstocks
Tolerates heavy / wet soils
Problems:
Slightly susceptible to woolly aphid
Not cold-hardy for northern North American conditions
Can induce brittleness in the scion, so avoid over-cropping at tips of
branches.
Requirements:
Watering and feeding required
G11(Small)
Developed as an improved semi-dwarf M26, but turned out to be a true dwarfing rootstock in the
M9 class. Good fireblight resistance (like all Geneva-series rootstocks). Increasingly used in US
commercial orchards for very high-density (2ft - 3ft) plantings, and generally easier to work with
than Bud 9. unless winter hardiness is the outright requirement.
Age starts fruiting: 3-4 years
Spacing: 1m or less between trees
Good features: Good resistance to fireblight
Encourages large fruit size
Suitable forms: Small centre leader / Spindlebush, Small bush tree
Requirements:
G16(Small)
Another good alternative to M9, developed specifically to be resistant to fireblight, which is
endemic in parts of North America. Grows quite rapidly at first but growth is checked once
cropping starts. Produces a tree which is similar to or slightly larger than M9.
Unusually for a tree in this size class, G16 has very good anchorage and may not need a
permanent support - although probably best to err on the side of caution.
Age starts
fruiting:
2-3 years
Staking: Permanent stake recommended
Good features:
Very resistant to fireblight, effectively immune
Good resistance to collar rot
Good cold hardiness
A good choice for the home orchardist looking for a small tree
Problems:
Can induce brittleness in the scion, so avoid over-cropping at tips of
branches.
Requirements:
Watering and feeding required.
Unusually for a dwarfing rootstock, does not always need a permanent
stake
Mark(Small)
A specialized and slightly more vigorous alternative to M9 (to which it is closely related) noted
for being highly productive. Also known as MAC9. A key point with Mark is that the tree stops
growing once fruiting starts, therefore it is important to prevent fruiting until the tree reaches the
desired size.
Age starts
fruiting:
2 years
Staking: Temporary stake required
Good features:
Resistant to fireblight and collar-rot
Problems:
Requires specialist management and irrigation to get the best out of this
rootstock, not likely to be useful for the home orchardist.
Requirements:
Very carefully controlled watering and feeding are vital with this
rootstock
M26(Medium)
A popular rootstock suitable for most temperate garden conditions, producing a reasonable sized
tree. Developed in the UK where it is regarded as being between M9 and MM106 in vigour,
elsewhere its vigour can be quite variable, sometimes being little different to M9.
Age starts
fruiting:
3-4 years
Spacing: 3m or more between trees
Staking: Temporary stake for first 4-5 years, or use a permanent stake in lighter soils
Good features:
Reasonably cold-hardy (unlike other Malling-series rootstocks) and
fairly tolerant of difficult conditions.
Problems:
Susceptible to collar rot
Susceptible (possibly very susceptible) to woolly aphid
Soils with poor drainage (which facilitate collar rot)
Suitable forms: Bush tree, Small fan or espalier, Large cordon
Requirements:
G935(Medium)
Released in 1998 as a semi-dwarf alternative to M26. Produces a tree slightly larger than M26,
but significantly more productive. Trees on G935 require permanent support.
Staking: Permanent stake always required
Good features:
Reasonably cold-hardy.
Resistant to fireblight.
Resistant to collar rot.
Problems:
Susceptible to woolly aphid.
Suitable forms: Central leader tree, Small fan or espalier
Requirements:
G202(Medium)
Derived from M27, and similar or slightly larger in size to M26. Can be less productive than G11
or M26 in the USA, but better resistance to woolly apple aphid. In other climates it has been
slightly more productive than M26.
Staking: Temporary stake for first 4-5 years, or use a permanent stake in lighter soils
Good features:
Good resistance to woolly aphid
Resistance to fire blight
Resistance to collar rot
Requirements:
G30(Medium)
G30 has proven to be an excellent semi-vigourous rootstock, adaptable to most North American
conditions and more productive than other rootstocks in its class. Its only disadvantage is that it
always requires permanent support.
Size tends to be larger than M26 but smaller than M7. It has much better fireblight resistance and
tolerance of wet conditions than M26. Tends to grow vigorously in the first 3-4 years but growth
then tails off as fruiting begins.
G30 is by some margin the best (or indeed only) rootstock that will tolerate soils which are
subject to flooding.
Age starts
fruiting:
3-4 years
Staking: Permanent stake or other support (wood is brittle)
Good features:
Very resistant to fireblight
Very tolerant of 'wet feet' - probably the best rootstock to use if your
ground is subject to flooding
Very productive in a wide range of soil conditions
Induces larger fruit size
Problems:
Requires a permanent support in all situations - this is unusual for a
rootstock of this vigour category, but is a result of its unusually good
cropping potential
Requirements:
MM102(Medium)
A rootstock from the Malling-Merton series, derived from the Northern Spy apple variety and
resistant to woolly aphid. Remains popular in Australia and New Zealand but little-used
elsewhere. Producing a tree similar in size to M26.
Staking: Temporary stake for first 4-5 years
Good features:
Resistant to woolly aphid
Requirements:
M7(Medium)
One of the most popular apple of the original Malling-series rootstock in North America because
it has good fireblight resistance. Can be treated as a small MM106 in most respects.
Age starts
fruiting:
3-4 years
Staking:
Temporary stake for first 4-5 years, may require permanent stake in lighter
soils
Good features:
Resistant to fireblight
Resistant to mildew
Problems:
Not especially cold-hardy
Requirements:
Interstems(Medium)
Interstems consist of TWO rootstocks, one grafted on top of the other. The scion variety is then
grafted on top of the second rootstock. Any combination is possible, but in practice most
interstems consist of the MM111 or Bud. 118 rootstocks on the bottom, with a piece of M9 or
G11 or Bud. 9 grafted on top (the interstem). This produces a free-standing apple tree which will
grow in almost any soil conditions (thanks to the vigorous MM111 or Bud. 118 rootstock), yet is
fairly precocious and not too large for the backyard gardener (thanks to the dwarfing interstem).
The mature size is greatly affected by the length of the interstem (the longer the interstem the
smaller the tree) so can be quite variable. Usually the intention is to produce a tree comparable to
or a bit smaller than MM106.
Mature height: 2.5m - 3m / 10ft - 12ft
Age starts
fruiting:
3-4 years
Spacing: 3m / 10ft or more between trees
Staking: Not required
Good features:
The interstem keeps the overall size down to a manageable height and
ensures fruiting early in the life of the tree.
The vigorous MM111 or Bud.118 rootstock means the tree can be
grown in most soils and probably won't require irrigation, and no staking
is required.
Requirements:
Ground around the tree can be grassed after 4-5 years, keep weed-free
until then.
M116(Medium)
M116 is a new rootstock, released in 2002, which can be used as an alternative to MM106. It
produces a tree which is about 10% smaller than MM106, but capable of producing the same
quantity of apples - making it an excellent choice for small orchards and gardens. It is derived
from a cross between the MM106 rootstock pollinated by the M27 rootstock.
Age starts
fruiting:
3-4 years
Staking: Temporary stake for first few years
Good features:
Resistance to collar rot / phytophora (unlike MM106)
Some resistance to woolly aphid (like MM106)
Some resistance to mildew
Some resistance to re-plant disease
Suitable forms:
Medium/Large bush tree, Medium/Large central leader tree, Large fan or
espalier
Requirements:
Ground around the tree can be grassed after 4-5 years, keep weed free
until then.
MM106(Large)
One of the most popular apple rootstocks, developed in collaboration by the East Malling and
Merton research stations in the early 20th century, and derived from the Northern Spy apple
variety (which is resistant to woolly aphid) crossed with the Malling 1 rootstock.
Produces a good sized apple tree for the garden or orchard, which can still be mostly worked
from the ground or low platforms. If soil conditions are good it does not require much looking
after and tolerates low vegetation around it once established.
Age starts
fruiting:
3-4 years
Spacing: 3.5m - 4m between trees
Staking:
Not essential when planting 1-year trees, otherwise use temporary stake for
first few years
Good features:
Resistant to woolly aphid (this was one of the goals of its development)
An excellent rootstock for the backyard gardener, provided the soil
conditions are good
Problems:
Not resistant to fireblight
Very susceptible to collar rot / phytophora - best avoided on wet or
poorly drained ground
Not cold-hardy
Suitable forms:
Large bush tree, Large central leader tree, Large fan or espalier, Half-standard
tree
Requirements:
until then.
MM111(Very large)
MM111 is an interesting rootstock, little used in the UK where it was developed, because in the
relatively benign UK climate its strengths are not an advantage over other alternatives. However
elsewhere in the world MM111 is greatly valued for its ability to grow in poor soils. Its only
weakness is that it can take many years for the scion variety to come into bearing. MM111 is
frequently used as the basis for interstem trees (see above), a role for which it is perfectly suited.
Mature height: 4m - 5m
Age starts
fruiting:
4-5 years
Spacing: 4m - 5m between trees
Good features:
Resistant to woolly aphid (this was one of the goals of its development)
Good general disease resistance
Resistant to phytophora collar rot (prevalent in wet conditions)
Tolerates dry soils, and poor irrigation, and poor quality soils
Fairly cold-hardy (compared with the other Malling and Malling-
Merton series rootstocks)
Problems:
Can take more than 5 years to come into bearing
Some susceptibility to mildew
Suitable forms: Large bush tree, Large standard tree
Requirements:
until then.
Widely used in conjunction with M9 or equivalent interstems, which
complement it perfectly.
Bud 118(Very large)
Similar or slightly larger than MM111, but much better cold-hardiness. For most of North
America this is the best rootstock for growers wanting a large traditional apple tree.
Mature height: 4m - 5m
Age starts
fruiting:
4-5 years
Good features:
Very cold-hardy
Fairly resistant to fireblight
Requirements:
until then.
M25(Very large)
The usual choice for producing a large traditional apple tree in the UK (mainly because it is far
more precocious, and slightly larger, than MM111), but little used elsewhere.
Mature height: 5m
Age starts
fruiting:
5 years
Good features:
Relatively precocious - unusual for such a vigorous rootstock
Tolerates a wide range of soils, and poor irrigation
Although not particularly disease resistant or resistant to phytophora
(collar and crown rot) M25 is so vigorous that it can often outgrow these
problems
Problems: Not cold-hardy
M25 has a reputation for poor anchorage (i.e. it can be blown over) if
planted as a 2 or 3 year-old tree and then allowed to crop quickly. For
this reason it is far better to plant 1 year-old M25 trees and delay full
cropping until year 5. If faced with planting a 2 or 3-year M25 tree, use a
large tree stake to fix the roots immobile and leave it for several years
until the tree is properly established.
Requirements:
until then.

Whilst the rootstock is perhaps the most important factor in determining the size of an apple tree,
there are many other factors which influence it. Our Fruit Tree Height calculator gives more
precise information on heights of individual fruit tree varieties.

Rootstock research stations
The above list is not comprehensive, but covers most of the rootstocks likely to be available to
apple enthusiasts in Europe, North America, and Australasia. The rootstock names give a clue to
their origins:
M-series. The first research into size-controlling apple rootstocks was carried out in the UK by
East Malling research station in the early 20th century. The famous M9 rootstock was one of the
first released by this programme, and remains the most widely-planted rootstock in commercial
orchards. It is a standardised form of one of the French "Paradise" rootstocks, known as Jaune de
Metz. (When young, these rootstocks have a yellow sheen to the bark).
MM-series. These stemmed from a colaboration between East Malling Research Station and the
John Innes Institute at Merton - hence "Malling-Merton". The main focus of this programme was
resistance to woolly aphid. The MM106 rootstock is the most widely-planted rootstock of this
series.
G-series.The Geneva series of rootstocks are developed at Cornell University's agricultural
experiment station based at Geneva, New York state, beginning in the 1970s, specifically to
provide better rootstocks for North American conditions. Resistance to fireblight, tolerance of
phytophthora (which causes crown and collar rot in wet conditions) and winter hardiness were
the main objectives. All the G-series rootstocks exhibit these qualities to a greater or lesser
extent.
Bud-series (Budagovsky). These rootstocks are developed at the Michurin Institute near
Moscow, Russia. Exceptional cold-hardiness is one of the aims of this programme. The Bud.9
rootstock is the most succesful of this series and is widely planted in high-density orchards in
North America, as an alternative to M9.
P-series. This series of rootstocks has been developed in Poland (the Polish word for rootstock is
podkladki, hence "P" series).

Rootstocks and disease resistance
The first scientific research into rootstocks at East Malling focussed primarily on the control of
tree height. However researchers soon realised that rootstocks could play an important role in
conferring disease resistance as well. The main diseases of apple trees which rootstocks can
influence are:
Crown / Collar Rot. A disease caused by the fungus Phytophthora, which attacks the tree and
affects either the crown of the tree or the area near the rootstock union - in either case the results
are fatal. It is associated with heavy / poorly-drained soils and is prevalent in the eastern United
States. Of the early English rootstocks, M9 and M27 proved resistant but MM106 is very
susceptible. More info.
Fire blight. A bacterial disease - affected areas of the tree appear blackened as if by fire, and
eventually die. The infection generally starts in the blossom and travels down the tree to the
rootstock, killing the tree. The disease is prevalent in the north-east of North America. The
English M9 rootstock is very susceptible to fire blight. A resistant rootstock allows the grower to
cut out the infected parts of the tree, which should then re-grow.
Woolly aphid. A type of insect that sucks the sap from fruit trees, and exudes a white cotton-like
residue. Whilst not fatal to the tree, they severely weaken it, reduce crops, and expose the tree to
other diseases. Woolly aphid is prevalent in Europe and North America (more so in the southern
US states) and is a serious problem for commercial growers in these areas. MM106 was one of
the first rootstocks which conferred resistance to woolly aphid, whereas M9 and M27 are quite
susceptible and M26 is very susceptible.

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Rootstocks for apple trees

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