Grafting & Propagation
Versioned rule set • Sources shown per result
Fruit Tree Graft Compatibility Checker
Check reviewed scion and rootstock combinations before cutting; unsupported pairs are clearly labelled instead of receiving an invented score.
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How this tool works
Botanical relatedness is an important screening factor, but genus alone does not prove long-term compatibility. Cultivar, rootstock clone, health, environment, and delayed incompatibility can change the outcome. Pear on quince may require a known-compatible interstem.
Assumptions & Physical Constraints:
This screens the selected botanical groups and reviewed pairs. It cannot verify cultivar identity, plant health, bark alignment or your growing conditions. A documented pairing still needs suitable material and crop-specific technique; no universal temperature window is supplied.
Example: Bartlett/Williams on Quince A is commonly handled as an interstem-required combination. Use a locally proven compatible bridge such as Old Home or Beurré Hardy and confirm nursery or extension guidance for the exact material.
Found a questionable result?
Report the inputs and expected result. Calculator feedback is reviewed against the cited rule set.
Graft compatibility reference: covered combinations
This is the same rule set used by the interactive checker. An absent pair means not covered, not automatically incompatible. Group-level rules are not a substitute for named cultivar and clone guidance.
| Scion / rootstock key | Screening result | Main caution | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Group / Apple M9 | Documented Compatible | M.9 has weak anchorage and is normally grown with permanent trellis or sturdy staking. | WSU: Apple rootstocks |
| Apple Group / Apple M26 | Documented Compatible | Check fire blight and crown rot risk, drainage and the support required by the growing system. A fixed 3–5-year support deadline is not assumed. | WSU: Apple rootstocks |
| Apple Group / Apple M111 | Documented Compatible | Confirm planting space against comparable local mature trees, management and equipment access. | WSU: Apple rootstocks |
| Apple Group / Apple G41 | Documented Compatible | Provide appropriate support and handle the graft union carefully; brittleness is not limited to a guaranteed two-year window. | WSU: Apple rootstocks |
| Pear European Group / Quince A | Conditional / Interstem May Be Required | INTERSTEM CHECK: Use a documented compatible pear bridge where the cultivar is listed as incompatible, and confirm the supplied material with the nursery or local extension source. | UC ANR: Quince as Pear Rootstock |
| Pear European Group / Pear Ohxf87 | Documented Compatible | Confirm named scion and rootstock identity, plant-health certification and regional suitability. | WSU: Pear rootstock discussion |
| Pear Asian Group / Pear Callery | Conditional / Check Cultivar and Region | Callery pear is invasive in many areas. Check current local restrictions and a suitable non-invasive rootstock alternative before buying or propagating it. | UGA: Home Garden Pears |
| Peach Nectarine Group / Peach Lovell | Documented Compatible | Good drainage and a suitable local propagation procedure matter. A temperature reading alone does not establish healing success. | UC ANR: Peach rootstock characteristics |
| Peach Nectarine Group / Plum Citation | Documented Compatible | UC guidance distinguishes winter wetness tolerance from drought tolerance. Confirm drainage, irrigation and the exact scion locally. | UC ANR: Peach rootstock characteristics |
| Plum Japanese Group / Plum Citation | Documented Compatible | Confirm cultivar-specific nursery guidance and avoid poorly drained or chronically drought-stressed sites. | UC: California Rootstock Breeding Program, Santa Rosa plum trials |
| Plum European Group / Plum Citation | Conditional / Verify Cultivar | Do not infer long-term compatibility solely from the shared Prunus genus. | UC ANR Propagating Temperate Fruit and Nut Crops |
| Pear Asian Group / Pear Betula | Conditional / Verify Cultivar and Region | Tree vigor, cold response, soil adaptation, and regional recommendation still require local verification. | USDA: Pear Production, rootstock discussion |
| Pear Asian Group / Pear Ohxf87 | Conditional / Verify Cultivar and Region | Prefer a nursery or extension recommendation that names the exact Asian pear cultivar and OHxF clone. | WSU: Pear rootstock discussion |
| Sweet Cherry Group / Cherry Gisela5 | Documented Compatible | Match support, crop-load management, irrigation and soil to the cultivar and system. WSU says trees may need support; that is not a universal structural prescription. | WSU: Rootstocks for Cherry |
| Sweet Cherry Group / Cherry Mazzard | Documented Compatible | Expect a large tree and verify site, disease, and soil suitability. | WSU: Rootstocks for Cherry |
| Fig Group / Fig Trunk | Graft Pair Not Verified / Consider Cuttings | For an ordinary new common-fig plant, consider a suitable cutting protocol. Named topworking combinations need a separate source. | Texas A&M AgriLife Fig Resources |
| Citrus Group / Citrus Trifoliate | Conditional / Named Citrus Cultivar Required | Verify the exact scion and rootstock clone. Citrus rootstock choice has cultivar-specific incompatibilities, disease and soil constraints; the broad Citrus group cannot resolve them. | UF/IFAS: Citrus Nursery Production Guide, Rootstock Selection |
| Citrus Group / Citrus Flying Dragon | Conditional / Named Citrus Cultivar Required | Verify the exact scion and rootstock clone. Citrus rootstock choice has cultivar-specific incompatibilities, disease and soil constraints; the broad Citrus group cannot resolve them. | UF/IFAS: Citrus Nursery Production Guide, Rootstock Selection |
| Apple Group / Peach Lovell | Documented Incompatible | DO NOT GRAFT: Apples cannot graft onto peach, plum, or cherry rootstocks. | UC ANR Publication 21563, graft compatibility Table 1 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I rely on an apple scion on pear rootstock?
No. Apple-on-pear is not treated as a dependable orchard combination in this reviewed matrix. Initial callus is not proof of a durable vascular union.
What is delayed graft incompatibility?
A union may appear successful at first but weaken later because normal vascular continuity and long-term mechanical strength do not develop. Timing varies, so early growth alone is not proof of compatibility.