The WHY WHAT and WHO of Rootstocks

All of our citrus trees are grown on a rootstock. For several crucial and important reasons.
We select the best match for the citrus variety, it is not really as important to question the selection of rootstock, what’s important is that you are buying a professionally grafted citrus tree 
If you buy a citrus tree that is not grafted you’re at risk, well, your tree is

Predominately at Citrus Men, we grow on five rootstocks

• Trifoliata

• Troyer

• Zao Yang

• Flying Dragon

• Cox

Each with their own unique “super power”, that they will bring to a citrus tree.

The reason trees are grown on rootstocks are:

To provide longevity to the tree.
To offer resistance to Phytophthora, citrus root and collar rot, and citrus nematodes.
For cold-hardy tolerance.
Tolerance and adaptability to soil types, clay or saline, and PH levels.
To boost vigour in the citrus variety.

And in the case of Flying Dragon Rootstock, it is used to reduce and restrict the size of the tree without compromising the size of the fruit

Each rootstock is more compatible with some varieties than others. 

Our rootstock is grown from seed in our beautiful seed houses here at CM HQ, we use Australian virus indexed and certified seed, that is procured from a vaulted, biosecure citrus repository.

The bud wood that we use to graft the trees is also procured. We order in boxes of clean certified and virus-checked material. All to ensure we maintain our strict management practice, and biosecurity obligations and so that you receive a long-lived healthy citrus tree, that is true to type 

When you buy a grafted tree you get all the benefits of the rootstock that powers it and are assured that your citrus tree will live long and strong, fruit well and be true to type.

Grafting is a skill and talent that has served and protected citrus trees in commercial orchards and domestic gardens for over 100 years in Australia.