Fruit Tree Rootstocks

Buying Fruit Tree Rootstocks Online:

Pre-Order Bareroot Rootstocks For 2025/26 Winter Season

Grafting fruit trees is easy and fun. Apart from the rootstocks that you buy from us here, all you need to get started is a very sharp little knife, a cutting (called the scion) from your desired fruit tree, and some tape to hold the scion in place without the graft union drying out.
Traditional grafters can seal it further during the healing process with wax or Medo pruning paint, but a plastic wrap works as well. 

Your mail order rootstocks are delivered by next working day courier.
If there is anything wrong with your plants when they arrive, Contact Us within 5 working days, and our friendly support team will sort it out.

All bareroot plants are covered by our Refund Guarantee, so you can give them a whirl with complete confidence.

Grafting fruit trees is a skill that is easiest to learn in person, but the next best thing is to spend a few hours watching grafting videos online.

According to the RHS, grafting "is a difficult task and requires lots of skill and practice", and we really disagree!

• Basic grafting is a simple task, and you can practice on most trees, so there's no pressure to get it right first time with your valuable rootstock. You can get started today at a local branch of sycamore!
• If your fruit graft fails, cut off the end of the rootstock and try again.

Yes, there are lots of advanced grafting techniques that are tricky, and getting professional results consistently out in the field does come with lots of practice. 
But anyone who can peel an apple will not struggle to do the essential grafts.

Rootstocks are only delivered bareroot, in Winter.

Why do I need graft fruit trees onto a rootstock?

You graft fruit tree cuttings (scions) onto rootstocks for two main reasons: to propagate a new tree of the variety that you want, and to control its size.

• Fruit tree cultivars (e.g. a Cox's Orange Pippin) do not come true from seed, so you can't grow them that way. 
• If you grew a scion on its own roots with no rootstock, the mature size would probably be much bigger than you wanted, or in some cases too small. The rootstock controls the growth rate: inhibiting vigorous varieties, and spurring on varieties with low vigour.

You only need to use a rootstock when making a new tree. If you have an existing fruit tree, you can graft onto its branches to have a multi-variety tree: this is an excellent idea if you don't like the fruit, or want more variety over a longer season. "Over-grafting" a mature tree is vastly faster than cutting it down and replacing it.

When you graft multiple varieties onto one tree, it's known as a family apple tree, family pear tree, and so on; many people prefer the more scientific term "Frankentree" (which is really Dr Frankenstein's Monstrositree, but let's not be pedantic). 

While you cannot inter-graft different species in most cases, there are plenty of exceptions. The most famous example is pears & quinces: quince rootstocks are the most widely used for grafting pears, because they are very good at controlling the pear's high vigour.

Can I graft my scions onto my rootstock immediately?

It's not ideal to graft your scions onto your rootstock immediately when it arrives, as the success rate tends to be lower, but yes, you can.
If you do it that way, you must keep the roots moist and wrapped up, then plant immediately after sealing the graft.

For best results, plant your rootstock into a container of good potting compost, and take great care of it!
It should be fine, and if the graft fails you can still plant the rootstock and try again the following year.

Still, the recommended way is to be patient and give your rootstock a growing season to establish before you begin grafting, a year and a bit after planting. 

Whichever way you choose, it may be more convenient to grow it in a large pot for its first year, then plant it out the following Autumn when you have seen the graft succeed.  

Is there VAT on Rootstocks?

Yes, fruit tree rootstocks are standard rated for VAT, regardless of their purpose.

Only complete fruit trees are VAT Free, not rootstocks.