A propagation technique that joins the upper portion of one plant to the root system of another, allowing them to grow together as a single plant.
Grafting combines two plants into one. The upper portion, called the scion, provides the desired fruit, flowers, or growth characteristics. The lower portion, called the rootstock, provides the root system and often contributes traits such as disease resistance, drought tolerance, cold hardiness, or size control.
Once the two parts heal together, they function as a single plant. This allows gardeners and growers to reproduce exact plant varieties that would not remain true if grown from seed.
Many commercial fruit trees are grafted because grafting provides predictable fruit quality and better control over tree size and performance.
Grafting makes it possible to grow specific plant varieties with improved vigor, disease resistance, or manageable size. It is one of the most important techniques used in modern fruit production and allows gardeners to grow reliable varieties that would otherwise be difficult to reproduce.