Rootstock Information
When choosing fruit trees for your edible garden or home orchard, it’s easy to focus on the variety of apple, peach, plum, or pear. But there’s another factor that’s just as important—yet often overlooked: the rootstock.
In New Zealand, almost all apple trees, and many peach, nectarine, plum, cherry, pear, and citrus trees, are grafted or budded onto rootstocks. These rootstocks—typically identified by names like MM106, M9, or obscure acronyms—play a critical role in how your fruit tree will grow, perform, and ultimately, produce fruit.
At Fruitfool, we want to help you make confident choices with our fruit tree selector tools and orchard planning guides. That’s why understanding rootstocks is so important.
Title | UsedFor | Type | Avg. Height | Diameter | Canopy Size | Preferences | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Trifoliata | Citrus | Other | More cold tolerant rootstock | ||||
Zutano | Avocado | Other | More cold tolerant rootstock | ||||
MM106 | Apple | Pipfruit | 3.5m | 4m | 13sqm | Free draining soils. Developed for free draining lighter soils. | A semi dwarfing tree, if well pruned can be kept to 2.5m high and 3m wide. An excellent choice for home gardens if you have the right soil. Known for it's strong roots and high yield. It doesn't generally need staking, is vigorous and tolerant. Disease resistant to Woolly Aphid. |
Quince BA29 Semi Dwarf | Pear | Pipfruit | 2-4m | 7sqm | Heavier, wet soils essential. | Suitable for dwarfing a pear variety. | |
MM102 | Apple | Pipfruit | 2.5-3m | Semi-Dwarf, Productive. Resistant to Woolly Aphid. | |||
M26 | Apple | Pipfruit | 2.5m | 4sqm | Prefers well drained soils | Dwarfing variety. It needs to be staked to avoid wind rock and therefore root damage. Can be grown in a container. Fruits early in the tree life.. | |
793 | Apple | Pipfruit | 4-8m | 30sqm | Free draining soils. Tolerates heavy soils. | Large tree. Has been bred from Northern Spy and does well on heavy soils. | |
M9 | Apple | Pipfruit | 2m | 2m | 3sqm | Irrigation, mulch, staking, free draining soils. Hardy, tolerant of wet conditions but not drought. | Produces a dwarf tree. Can be espaliered, cordoned or grown as a staked tree. Sometimes called Paradise root stock. Fruits at a young age. Must be staked. Suitable for containers. |
MM111 | Apple | Pipfruit | 5m | Rugged and robust. Resistant to Woolly Aphid. Forms a large tree which needs plenty of space. | |||
Northern Spy 4-6m 30 sqm | Apple | Pipfruit | 4-6m | 30sqm | This is the old rootstock that does best on heavy clays. It can handle heavy wet soils as well. T | It is possible to keep trees on this rootstock to 3m if you are a very skilled pruner. They can grow to 6m, but not too difficult to keep them to 4-5. | |
Marianna | Plum Root Stock | Plum, Nectarine, Peach | Stonefruit | 3-6m | 12sqm | Heavier, wet soils, essential. | Will produce a smaller tree than on peach rootstock. | |
Colt | Cherry | Stonefruit | 4-5m | 12sqm | Good for difficult soil. | Vigorous. Some good disease resistances. | |
Peach Root Stock | Peach | Stonefruit | 5-8m | 15sqm | Light, dry, boney soils. | Vigorous rootstocks. | |
Myrobalan B | Apricot, Plum | Stonefruit | 5-6m | 25sqm | Tolerant of variable soil conditions including wet soils. | Vigorous. | |
Seedlings | Peach | Stonefruit | 5-8m | 15sqm | Drier, bony soils, exposed. | Seedling grown trees, not grafted |
What Is a Rootstock, and Why Is It Used?
A rootstock is the lower part of a grafted tree, selected for its specific traits. The fruiting variety (like Braeburn apple or Moorpark apricot) is grafted onto a rootstock that controls how the tree grows. This allows growers and gardeners to combine the best of both worlds—delicious fruit from the top, and strong, adaptive roots below.
How Rootstocks Affect Your Tree
Rootstocks don’t change the type or taste of fruit, but they dramatically influence:
Tree size – from compact dwarf trees perfect for pots or small backyards, to large, vigorous trees ideal for paddocks or orchards
Soil adaptability – some rootstocks are better suited to clay soils, others to sandy or dry conditions
Climate tolerance – certain rootstocks offer better cold-hardiness or drought resistance
Disease resistance – some can help reduce the risk of root rot or collar rot in susceptible soils
Time to fruiting – dwarf rootstocks often produce fruit sooner than full-sized ones
Choosing the right rootstock means you’re setting your tree up for long-term health, manageable growth, and consistent harvests. The wrong rootstock can result in a tree that grows too big for your space, struggles in your soil, or fails to thrive in your local climate.
Dwarf, Semi-Dwarf or Vigorous? How to Choose
Here’s a general guide to rootstock sizes:
Dwarf rootstocks (e.g. M9, G41): Small trees (2–3m), ideal for pots, small gardens, or espalier
Semi-dwarf rootstocks (e.g. MM106, G202): Medium-sized trees (3–4m), good for most backyards
Vigorous rootstocks (e.g. M793, seedling): Large trees (5m+), suitable for open orchards and long-term production
Each fruit type has its own range of compatible rootstocks, so it's worth checking which ones are best suited for your region, soil type, and gardening goals. You’ll find this information in our fruit tree selector and climate zone guides.
Bottom line? The rootstock is the foundation of your fruit tree’s success. By taking the time to understand and choose the right one, you’re more likely to enjoy a healthy tree, better yields, and a thriving home orchard for years to come.
Helpful Links:
Koanga Institute Rootstock Information:
https://www.koanga.org.nz/gardens/files/2021/02/Koanga_Fruit_Tree_Catalogue_2021_DOWNLOAD-1.pdf
Wairere Nursery Rootstock Information:
https://www.wairere.nz/Apple-Rootstocks-New