Kilei Ilan (grafting): scion and rootstock combinations for trees and vegetables
Laws of kilei ilan (grafting): permitted and prohibited scion and rootstock combinations for fruit trees, citrus trees, ornamental trees, and vegetables (update: Tevet 5785-January 2025).
· The kilei ilan prohibition includes grafting scions from different species onto one rootstock (multi fruit).
· The trees bolded and marked with an asterisk* are often grafted in a forbidden manner. For trees not bolded, there is no known prohibited grafting.
· The information below relates to trees produces in large nurseries. Some small planters perform non-standard grafts at times; it is difficult to predict the possible grafting pairs and the chart below should not be relied upon.
· For a list of halachically supervised nurseries, click here.
The tables below are based on an article written by Rabbi Yoel Friedemann, published also in Hilchot Ha'aretz, and available on this website, here. Changes and updates have been made to the lists. Latest update: Tevet 5785-January 2025
For a PDF colored file of this list, click here.
Table 1: Scions and Rootstocks for Fruit Trees
|
Fruit (variety) |
Permissible rootstocks Preference 1 |
Permissible rootstocks |
Preference 3 |
Forbidden rootstocks |
|
Almond* |
Bitter almond |
Peach X Almond (GF-677, Hansen, GF-749, GF-557) |
GN-15 |
Peach (Baladi, Nemaguard, GF-305) |
|
Annona |
Annona (cherimola) |
|
|
|
|
Apple |
Apple |
|
|
|
|
Apricot* |
Apricot |
|
|
Peach X Plum (Myron, 29 X 27, Citation), Plum (Marianna), Peach X Almond (GF-677), Peach (GF-305)
|
|
Avocado |
Mexican avocado (Schmidt); West Indian avocado (Degania, Zrifin,Ashdot, Fairchild) |
|
|
|
|
Carob |
Seedlings / carob |
|
|
|
| Che – Chinese Mulberry* | Seedlings | Maclura pomifera (Osage orange) [1] | ||
|
Cherry and sweet cherry* |
Sweet cherry (Mazzard) |
|
Colt, Mahaleb, Gisela, MXM, MM2 |
|
|
Chinese date (Jujube)* |
Seedlings |
|
|
Sour plum (Ziziphus spinose) |
|
Date |
No grafting can be performed |
|
|
|
|
Feijoa |
Seedlings/ cuttings / feijoa |
|
|
|
|
Fig |
Cuttings / fig |
|
|
|
|
Grapevine |
Grapevine (Richter, Paulsen, Ruggeri) |
|
|
|
|
*Guava |
Seedlings / cuttings / guava |
|
|
Psidium cattleianum |
|
Kiwi |
Cuttings / kiwi (Hayward) |
|
|
|
|
Loquat* |
Loquat |
|
|
Quince (BA29, A, C, Sydo) (For heavy soils) |
|
Lychee |
Cuttings / lychee (Mauritius, Floridian) |
|
|
|
|
Macadamia |
Cuttings / macadamia |
|
|
|
|
Mango |
Mango (13/1, 49, Saber) |
|
|
|
|
Mulberry |
Seedlings / cuttings / raspberry |
|
|
|
|
Olive |
Cuttings / olive |
|
|
|
|
Peach* and nectarine |
Peach (Nemaguard, Baladi, 198/12, GF-305) |
Peach X Almond (GF-677, Hansen, GF-749, GF-557) |
GN-15 |
Almond (Alnem), Plum X Peach (Ferciana) |
|
Pear*/ Nashi Pear* |
Pear (OHF, Pyrus betulifolia) |
|
|
Quince (BA29, A, C, Sydo) |
|
Pecan |
Cuttings / pecan |
|
|
|
|
Persimmon |
Persimmon (Virginiana, Kaki, and Lotus) |
|
|
|
|
Pistachio* |
Pistachia vera |
|
Pistacia atlantica |
Pistacia chinesis X Pistacia atlantica (UCB1) |
|
Plum* |
Plum (Marianna, Myrobalan; Marianna is used more for European plum) |
Peach X Plum (Citation) |
Peach X Plum (Myron, Ferciana) |
Peach X Almond (Hansen, GF-677, GN-15; used for Japanese plums); Almond (Alnem; used for European plums), Peach (GF-305) |
|
Pomegranate |
Cuttings |
|
|
|
|
Quince |
Quince (BA29, A, C, Sydo) |
|
|
|
|
Strawberry Guava |
Seedlings / cuttings / strawberry guava |
|
|
|
|
Walnut |
Cuttings / walnut |
|
|
|
|
Wampi* |
Seedlings / wampi |
|
|
Citruses |
Table 2: Scions and Rootstocks for Citrus Trees
Table 3: Scions and Rootstocks for Ornamental Trees known to be grafted in a forbidden manner
|
Fruit (variety) |
Permissible rootstocks Preference 1 |
Permissible rootstocks |
Preference 3 |
Forbidden rootstocks |
|
Callery pear |
Callery pear |
|
|
Quince |
|
Green olive tree (Phillyrea latifolia) |
Green olive tree |
|
|
Olive |
|
Purple-leaf cherry plum |
Plum (Marianna, Myrobalan) |
|
|
Peach X Almond (GF-677, Hansen)
|
Table 4: Scions and Rootstocks for Vegetables Generally Grafted
|
Vegetable (variety) |
Permissible rootstocks |
Forbidden rootstocks |
|
Cucumber |
None |
Pumpkin (TZ, Tetsukabuto, AQ-1) |
|
Eggplant |
Under investigation |
Tomato (Fortamino, Beaufort) |
|
Melon |
Melon (MRS-2) |
Pumpkin (TZ, Tetsukabuto, AQ-1) |
|
Pepper |
Under investigation |
Eggplant, Tomato |
|
Tomato |
Tomato (Fortamino, Beaufort) |
|
|
Watermelon |
Watermelon (in development; not yet commercial)
|
Pumpkin (TZ, Tetsukabuto, AQ-1) |
