# Apple Tree Sprout **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 2, 2013, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-tree-sprout/659974 "2013-06-02T21:13:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![The\_Man\_In\_Black](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@The\_Man\_In\_Black](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Man_In_Black)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2013, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-tree-sprout/659974/1 "2013-06-02T21:13:01Z")
I planted several apple trees this year. The one I bought today (a semi dwarf Granny Smith) had a little baby tree sprouting at the base. It seemed to be attached to the roots. I removed the sprout and wrapped its roots in a wet towel for now. I am thinking about planting it, but I am wondering what kind of tree it actually is. I know that semi dwarf trees are actually regular trees that are grafted onto root stock. This sprout seemed to be attached to the roots, I am I right in thinking that it would in fact be whatever kind tree the root stock is? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2013, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-tree-sprout/659974/2 "2013-06-02T21:24:01Z")
Yes, it will be a clone of the rootstock variety - which won’t be much use as fruit, but you could use it as a new rootstock and graft any variety you like onto it. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Man\_In\_Black](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@The\_Man\_In\_Black](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Man_In_Black)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2013, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-tree-sprout/659974/3 "2013-06-02T21:48:10Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > Yes, it will be a clone of the rootstock variety - which won’t be much use as fruit, but you could use it as a new rootstock and graft any variety you like onto it. So it won’t even be a fruit variety then? I thought it would be some other type of fruiting apple tree. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2013, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-tree-sprout/659974/4 "2013-06-02T21:57:54Z")
> [@The\_Man\_In\_Black](#): > > So it won’t even be a fruit variety then? I thought it would be some other type of fruiting apple tree. It’s a variety of apple tree that has been selected for the shape of tree that it produces, rather than any aesthetic quality of the fruit - because the growth habit apple trees is significantly controlled by the rootstock. If grown to full size, it will produce fruit of \*some \*kind - probably smaller, harder and more sour than average, because that’s the typical result of growing any apple tree from seed. - That’s what all apple varieties are - selections from trees grown from seed - the vast majority of which will produce worthless fruit - but one seedling out of many thousands may turn out to be a decent new fruiting variety, or a new and useful rootstock variety - but is very unlikely to be both - therefore, rootstock varieties grown to full size for fruit will probably disappoint. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Man\_In\_Black](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@The\_Man\_In\_Black](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Man_In_Black)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2013, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-tree-sprout/659974/5 "2013-06-03T00:06:04Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > It’s a variety of apple tree that has been selected for the shape of tree that it produces, rather than any aesthetic quality of the fruit - because the growth habit apple trees is significantly controlled by the rootstock. > If grown to full size, it will produce fruit of \*some \*kind - probably smaller, harder and more sour than average, because that’s the typical result of growing any apple tree from seed. > > - That’s what all apple varieties are - selections from trees grown from seed - the vast majority of which will produce worthless fruit - but one seedling out of many thousands may turn out to be a decent new fruiting variety, or a new and useful rootstock variety - but is very unlikely to be both - therefore, rootstock varieties grown to full size for fruit will probably disappoint. Thanks for the in depth reply. I don’t think I will be planting it. ---
**Author:** ![pabstist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e99b99/32.png) [@pabstist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pabstist)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2013, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-tree-sprout/659974/6 "2013-06-03T00:19:10Z")
Why not? I’d be curious enough to just stick it in the ground and see what happens in a few years. It’s free landscaping, free shade, and might have pretty flowers in the spring.