Cherry Tree Suckers

[bzink]

I have a beautiful fruiting cherry tree in my backyard that is sending up a few hardy looking suckers. I would like to take them and plant them in the hopes to create bonsai trees from them. Are there any helpful hints?

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Either cut and try to strike the cuttings, using rooting hormone.

Bare the junction with the main root.
Scrape around the sides of the sucker at the junction.
Paint rooting compound on the scrapes.
Cover with soil
Uncover in three months and check to see if roots have formed
If roots are formed, cut free of main root.
Decide if you want to to pot up now, or wait.
If wait, pot up in early spring ‘26.

Cheers
DSD sends

 

[Shibui]

Cherry suckers frequently already have some roots so I usually just dig down and cut then transplant. Even just a few small roots is usually enough for them to survive.
If there's no roots evident, just replace the soil and keep well watered for another 6 months. Layering as above will usually speed up the process.

Just be aware that fruiting cherry is almost always grafted so the suckers growing from the roots will NOT be the same as the fruiting tree.

Down here many growers use 'Mazzard' which, I believe, is a Prunus avium cultivar as their root stocks. It tends to have coarse, upright growth habit so not great for bonsai.
You have not given a location so not sure what root stocks are likely to be used wherever you are.

 

[Attmos]

Cherry suckers frequently already have some roots so I usually just dig down and cut then transplant. Even just a few small roots is usually enough for them to survive.
If there's no roots evident, just replace the soil and keep well watered for another 6 months. Layering as above will usually speed up the process.

Just be aware that fruiting cherry is almost always grafted so the suckers growing from the roots will NOT be the same as the fruiting tree.

Down here many growers use 'Mazzard' which, I believe, is a Prunus avium cultivar as their root stocks. It tends to have coarse, upright growth habit so not great for bonsai.
You have not given a location so not sure what root stocks are likely to be used wherever you are.

Fruit trees just generally don't take to rooting, do they? There are several near me that I would love to spend time trying to develop, if they would root.

 

[Shibui]

Fruit trees just generally don't take to rooting, do they? There are several near me that I would love to spend time trying to develop, if they would root.

You will be surprised at how many fruit tree species will grow as cuttings - plums, many apples, most citrus, most cherries. Can't remember if I've tried peaches and nectarines. Pears have proved difficult.
It is worth trying cuttings of grafted trees. Many will be successful and you haven't lost a fortune if it does not work.

The reason fruit trees are routinely grafted is that we have developed pest and disease resistant root stocks that protect the trees from soil borne problems and we have developed root stocks that can limit the size of the trees to save on pruning. Some stocks help the tree survive cold or wet soils where the fruit tree growing on it's own roots would not be able to grow well.
If you do a deep dive into root stocks you will be able to see charts showing what problems different root stock cultivars can help overcome.

 

[Attmos]

You will be surprised at how many fruit tree species will grow as cuttings - plums, many apples, most citrus, most cherries. Can't remember if I've tried peaches and nectarines. Pears have proved difficult.
It is worth trying cuttings of grafted trees. Many will be successful and you haven't lost a fortune if it does not work.

The reason fruit trees are routinely grafted is that we have developed pest and disease resistant root stocks that protect the trees from soil borne problems and we have developed root stocks that can limit the size of the trees to save on pruning. Some stocks help the tree survive cold or wet soils where the fruit tree growing on it's own roots would not be able to grow well.
If you do a deep dive into root stocks you will be able to see charts showing what problems different root stock cultivars can help overcome.

Huh.. I am a beginner (very very green) but I may give it a shot. I'll look into rooting fruit trees on my own, but I may ask one or two questions at some point if you don't mind.

 

[Shibui]

I'll look into rooting fruit trees on my own, but I may ask one or two questions at some point if you don't mind.

Ask away. Questions are free.
You may even get answers if I happen to know anything useful.

 

[Attmos]

Ask away. Questions are free.
You may even get answers if I happen to know anything useful.