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Old 27-08-2003, 10:04 PM
Rod
 
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Default standard lilac reverting to rootstock?


"michael cane" wrote in message ...
Wife has bought two standard lilacs from QVC. After a month, one has a
different type of leaf growing from above the graft, looks very much like
privet. Is it possible that rootstock is privet? I have cut off the
offending shoot and rubbed out some small buds way down the stem. Is this
going to be a regular problem?

One of the plants also has tiny pink, flower like growths at the tips of the
branches. Could these be a late attempt to flower?

Have you correctly identified the graft union? As others have said, suckers will arise from *below* the graft. This is a standard
and may be 'top worked' ie grafted at the top of the stem. The apparent discontinuity you see at the bottom of the stem could be the
result of propagation of the rootstocks in a 'stool bed' system. And yes privet is/was commonly used as a rootstock for lilac. To
find graft union look for difference in diameter or other discontinuity but the absolute giveaway is change in colour/texture of the
bark on a sharp line.

Rod