Apple Tree Suckers: Are They True to Type or Rootstock?

Apple Tree Suckers: Are They True to Type or Rootstock?

A gardener bought an apple tree last Labor Day, planted it, but it lost leaves in fall and didn't regrow in spring. Two small plants appeared next to the trunk; they wondered if they were new apple trees or weeds.

Unknown Plant

Expert Analysis

The leaves are apple tree leaves. The key is whether the original tree was grafted, a stem cutting, or a seedling. Grafted trees have apple branches on different rootstock; cuttings root from terminal buds; seedlings grow from seed. This affects whether the suckers will be true to the original variety. The expert advised scratching bark to check for green/yellow (alive), removing dead wood, and letting suckers grow 2-3 years to see if they fruit.