Choosing apple rootstocks and ordering bare root apple trees

Article originally written by Annie Klodd (2020) and updated by Madeline Wimmer (2024, 2026), UMN Fruit Production Extension Educator.

Given that it's nearly October, we're far away from the start of the 2027 growing season, but now is a good time to think about ordering apple bare root trees for future plantings, which can take up to two years for some specialty orders. 

Most growers are familiar with the fruit characteristics offered by various apple varieties, which are determined primarily by the scion, or the top portion of the apple tree. However, one of the most important questions to answer prior to ordering apple bare root trees is "Which rootstock should I choose?" 

Why do apple trees have rootstocks?

A Honeycrisp apple tree (scion) grafted onto a G.935 rootstock. (Photo credit: Annie Klodd)

Apple trees are propagated asexually by grafting. While some plants, like grapevines can be asexually propagated using cuttings, the branches used for fruit trees are mature and do not reliably root as cuttings. Thus, grafting is used to clone apple trees. 

A grafted tree includes the scion, which is the top-portion of the tree that produces the apple variety desired (ex. Honeycrisp). The scion branch is grafted onto a rootstock variety (ex. G.935).The graft union, where the scion and rootstock come together, is visible near the base of the plant..

While some growers practice grafting their own apple trees, many choose to order pre-grafted trees instead. When ordering plants for dwarf or semi-dwarf apple trees, you are selecting not only the apple variety, but also the rootstock that the nursery grafts it onto. 

Rootstock series

 

Image: Relative sizes of apple trees grafted onto common apple rootstocks. Graphic sourced from Washington State University.

Rootstocks primarily affect an apple tree's height along with its precocity, or how soon it begins to bear fruit, but they can also offer a number of other traits related to cold hardiness, disease resistance, and yield. 

Tree height: Standard-sized rootstocks are the reference point for comparing rootstock vigor, which is not always exact (variety, growing site, and management all impact tree size), but can help growers anticipate what to expect. Dwarf rootstocks tend to be less than 50% of standard size, whereas semi-dwarf trees are between 50-70% standard size. You might also see the term semi-standard, which would be in between semi-dwarf and standard. 

As you explore which rootstock(s) might be right for your orchard, you'll see a number of abbreviations, which relate to the breeding program from which it came. 

• Budagovsky: B. or Bud refers to the Budagovsky rootstock series from the Michurinsk breeding program in Russia and are known for their cold hardiness. Bud 9 (shown above) is one of the most common Budagovsky dwarf-sized rootstocks used in Minnesota.
• Malling: The letter M before a rootstock number stands for Malling series and originates from the East Malling Research Station in Kent, England. However, when you see EMLA (East Malling/Long Ashton), this indicates the Malling rootstock is virus tested. Common Malling rootstocks grown in MN orchards are M.9 and M.26. 
• Malling Merton: Rootstocks with the letters MM are from the Malling Merton series, which was a collaborative breeding effort between the East Malling Research Station and the John Innes Institute, which is located in Merton, England. 
• Geneva: The other most prominent rootstock series you'll see today is G., or Geneva, which are developed through Cornell University's breeding program in Geneva, New York. The Geneva series contains a large number of different rootstocks (see comparison chart here), some of which are tolerant to apple replant disease and/or phytophthora crown and root rot. Example Geneva rootstocks that might be grown in Minnesota include G.11, G.41 (both comparable in size to M.9), G.935 (comparable in size to M.26) and G.30 (comparable in size to M.7). 
• Vineland: Not mentioned in the chart above is one other series worth noting: the Vineland series, developed at the Horticultural Experiment Station in Vineland, Ontario, Canada. V.1 is one rootstock that performed well in terms of yield through research done at the University of Minnesota. Its size is comparable to M.26, which is a semi-dwarf sized rootstock (~50% standard size). 
• Seedling: When you see seedling listed as a rootstock, it means that the apple tree scion is grafted onto a rootstock grown from a seed. Varieties grafted onto seedling rootstocks are full-sized, or standard trees that take a number of years to begin bearing fruit. 

Choosing a rootstock

While certain rootstocks from different series can offer similar effects on tree height and years to fruit bearing, which rootstock you select should factor in orchard site characteristics like soil type and climate, as well as apple variety, intended tree size, planting system (e.g., trellised, high density or freestanding, versus low density), and disease resistance.

For example, while the Bud 9 (B9) rootstock is commonly used in the Midwest, that does not necessarily mean it is the best rootstock for your site and desired varieties. When a very low-vigor rootstock like B9 is paired with a low-vigor scion and grown on a sandy, low-organic matter soil, it is more likely to produce trees that are smaller or less productive than desired.

Do your research before ordering plants. Talk to experienced orchardists in your area, join events with grower associations like the Minnesota Apple Growers Association and Organic Fruit Growers Association, contact Extension, and study online resources from trustworthy research-based sources like university Extension and fruit nurseries.

There are numerous helpful resources online to explain rootstocks and assist in choosing appropriate rootstock X variety pairings for your orchard:

• Rootstocks for Apples - West Virginia Extension 
• Getting to the Root of It  - University of Minnesota Fruit Research Lab
• Which Rootstock should you grow with? - Good Fruit Grower
• Apple Rootstocks: Understanding and Choosing the Right Rootstock - eXtension
• Apple Rootstocks: Capabilities and Limitations - Penn State University
• Orchard Management: Cultivars, Rootstocks, and Training Systems - Penn State University online learning module

I hope you find these resources to be a useful starting point for ordering apple bare root plants and planning out your orchard. Recognize that resources listed above may have some variation in guidance based on regional variation. 

Ordering apple bare root plants

Growers often ask me where they should purchase bare root plants. As a University of Minnesota Extension Educator, I do not endorse or promote specific nurseries. A list of nurseries carrying University of Minnesota apple varieties can be found here: https://mnhardy.umn.edu/buy/buy-apples.