The message
from "Franz Heymann" contains these words:
"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?

Lilac is often grafted on to privet to prevent suckering.

Surely the growth is of the scion and not the stock if it is above the
graft.

[snip]

Depends where the grafts are. Since they are standards, I'd guess the
grafts are at the top of the stem.

I would like to attach a n additional question:
I have a forest of suckers from below the graft of a lilac. No amount of
clearing up seems to curb them. Does it make sense to try and control them
with glyphosate, or will I wreak irreparable damage on the tree?

Since glyphosate is systemic, I wouldn't try it. I'm afraid the only
solution to my suckering (with an 's') lilac is a spade or a mattock.

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