I purchased four Lovell rootstock. Three have green leaves and one has red leaves. Is it normal for some to have red leaves?
2 Likes
It is not just red leaf, the stem is red too, Pretty.
My Lovell has green leafs
2 Likes
There are red-leaved peach rootstocks—for instance, Citation and Flordaguard. This might be a result of a nursery mixup. Might also be a result of outcrossing: Lovell is, I think, mostly seed propagated. Those with much more peach experience than I have may have different ideas, but I’d personally not worry about it and just use it. Heck, many folks just bud peaches to random seedlings.
Welcome to the forum!
1 Like
Lovell is a seedling so each is genetically distinct.
- Either your seedling is “Lovell” and is expressing a red gene.
- The nursery mixed up the seed and it’s another type.
There’s also ornamental plums with red leaf. You can tell after the leaves grow some more.
If anything your seedling looks very ornamental, maybe let it ornament your property?
2 Likes
Generally not. There are red leafed rootstocks (Tenn. Natural, Stark’s Red Leaf, Nemared, etc.) and some red leafed named peaches. But Lovell is a seedling rootstock, as mentioned. Since it’s sexually reproduced, it has the potential to vary, although Lovell is supposed to fairly uniform.
Apparently red leaf color is controlled by the (GR) gene, which is recessive and also controls the blood red color in fruit. I had difficulty trying to find if Lovell had that gene.
4 Likes
It’s hard to control breeding for living organisms. Maybe the nursery had a mutt Lovell? 
Thanks for the welcome! Didn’t know about those rootstocks, I’ll have to read up on them. And, yes, I was thinking it might be a result of a cross. Out of curiosity, I might not graft onto this one and instead let it grow out to see what results.
2 Likes
Yes, I think I may just let grow out and see what results. Thanks!
1 Like