Q.Can A Hawthorn Be Grafted Onto An Unrelated Rootstock?
A tree near here which I have always taken to be some cultivated variety of hawthorn (hawthorn-like leaves, abundant whitish flowers with pink centres in spring, rough bark on the trunk – see photo – but no thorns) was felled to ground level last year. I have just noticed that the (very short) stump, and one root are now sprouting, but the leaves (see photo) are quite different from those on the original tree . Could it be that the hawthorn? was grafted onto a quite different ? If so, what?
Certified GKH Gardening Expert
Trees are often grafted onto a hardier rootstalk to improve the winter hardiness of a plant, for one reason. Rootstalks in themselves are not usually a tree you would want. That's why it's important to remove suckers, so they don't take over the desirable top of the tree.
Hawthornes are often used as a rootstalk for fruit trees. Here is an article you might enjoy:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/hawthorn/grafting-a-mayhaw-tree.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/hawthorn/thornless-cockspur-hawthorns.htm
