Scion

Scion is a term with two primary meanings. In horticulture and botany, a scion is the living shoot or twig that is grafted onto a rootstock to propagate a plant variety. The scion supplies the shoot system and the desired traits, such as fruit type or flower characteristics, while the rootstock provides the root system and often a different growth habit or disease resistance. The scion wood must be compatible with the rootstock, and it is typically selected from healthy, disease-free material.

In grafting practice, the scion is prepared with buds and joined to the rootstock so that the cambial layers align, allowing vascular connection as the plant heals. Common grafting methods include cleft grafting, whip-and-taste or whip-and-tongue grafting, and bud grafting. After alignment, the union is secured with grafting tape or clips and protected from desiccation and temperature stress until the graft union forms and new growth appears.

Historically and in social usage, scion refers to a descendant or heir, especially of a noble or prominent family. The term is often used to emphasize lineage and continuity across generations, as in phrases describing “a scion of the dynasty.” Metaphorically, it can denote a young or upcoming member who is treated as the heir to a particular family or tradition.