Citrus Propagation Citrus Propagation 1 J. G. Williamson and L. K. Jackson 2 Home fruit growers often want to propagate their own citrus trees, or change varieties by top-working an existing tree with one or more varieties of citrus. As with many gardening activities, considerable satisfaction may be gained from growing your own citrus trees. With patience and a little practice, home fruit growers can master the art of growing their own trees. It should be noted, however, that home fruit growers may find it difficult to obtain the highest quality plant material from which to grow their trees.
Most citrus trees consist of two distinct parts.
The rootstock , or stock , comprises the root system and lower stem or trunk. It is usually grown from seed. The upper part of the tree, consisting of the limbs, leaves and fruit, is known as the scion . The scion is derived by inserting tissue of the desired cultivar into the rootstock in such a way that it unites with the rootstock and develops the fruiting portion of the tree. By using different plants for the rootstock and scion, horticulturists have been able to incorporate more desirable characteristics into a single tree.