Living Stump

A living stump is a tree stump that remains biologically active after the above-ground trunk has been removed, sustained by carbohydrate transfer through root grafts with neighbouring trees of the same species. Living stumps challenge the conventional assumption that a felled tree is dead — they can survive for decades, producing no foliage of their own but continuing to respire and maintain cellular activity. The phenomenon has significant implications for forest ecology, stump management decisions, and understanding of below-ground tree connectivity. This collection covers the science of living stumps, how root grafting works, examples from documented research, and practical implications for property owners dealing with persistent stump activity.