Pear Rootstocks

Most pear trees are made from two parts which are grafted together when the tree is very young. The root and approximately the first 25cm of trunk is called the rootstock and this is mainly responsible for the eventual size of the tree. The rest of the tree, called the scion, controls the type of fruit which is produced. A number of rootstocks can be used, according to how large you want the tree to become. Some other factors also have an effect on the size of the tree, such as pruning, soil type and climatic factors, but none are as important as the choice of rootstock. Dwarfing rootstocks are the most common ones used today as the old fashioned, standard trees, are less popular because they take up a lot of space and the fruit is higher up and therefore more difficult ot pick

This table gives a brief guide to the most popular rootstocks and their effect on a tree's final size