Note: rootstock descriptions are for reference only. Dave Wilson Nursery does not offer rootstock for sale.
 

Colt

For sweet cherries. In heavy soils, trees are dwarfed to 70-80% of standard. Lesser dwarfing effect in other soils. Apparently resistant to bacterial canker. Relatively tolerant of wet soils (but good drainage still required). Trees begin bearing at young age.

Gisela® 12

Dwarfing varies with soil, climate conditions and cultivar. Precocious, and production can be heavy, requiring crop management. Well anchored, little suckering, suited to a wide range of soils. Open, spreading growth habit.

GM61/1

Standard cherry varieties dwarfed to half-size, or about 15-20 ft. if not pruned. Relatively tolerant of wet soil. Trees begin bearing at young age. Trees on GM61/1 may be held to any desired height by summer pruning. Not presently used by Dave Wilson Nursery.

Mahaleb

The most winter hardy of the commonly used cherry rootstocks. Sweet cherries slightly dwarfed, no dwarfing effect on sour types. Induces early, heavy bearing. Resists crown gall, bacterial canker, some nematodes. Not tolerant of wet soils.

Maxma® 14

Dwarfing rootstock for sweet cherries; trees dwarfed to about 2/3 of standard. Less dwarfing expected in fertile loamy soils. Induces early heavy bearing; crop management may be needed for productive varieties in early years. Good tolerance to wet soils, also performs well in calcareous soils. Resistant to bacterial canker and nematodes. Well anchored, very little suckering.

Mazzard

Standard rootstock for sweet cherries. Vigorous, more tolerant of wet soils than Mahaleb (but good drainage still required). Resistant to root-knot nematodes and oak-root fungus.

NEWROOT-1

Zaiger dwarfing rootstock for cherries. Dwarfs cherry trees to 8-12 ft. unpruned. Promotes early bearing. Ideal for container growing. More versatile than Mazzard and Mahaleb. Better adapted to clay soils than Mazzard and Mahaleb.

Zee Stem on Citation

Advantages: Allows cherry growers to use appropriate peach/plum/almond rootstocks for the planting location, precocious and dwarfing when used with Citation rootstock. Improves fruit quality. Disadvantages: Crop management may be needed on precocious varieties during early years. Not drought tolerant.