Hey Karyn, the short answer is yes. Lowe's had a bunch of these both the regular green crests as well as the variegated variety... all grafted. Not sure what is the reason other than the average person purchasing the plant might not kill as fast because the root stock is more tolerant of neglect/abuse. They just dropped the price on these and I was going to purchase several of the variegated plants and see if I could remove them from the stock and root them next spring... getting too cool here to be successful. I do have a variegated crest on its own roots. You just have to give it lots of light and watch the water.

I'm just guessing here, but maybe the reason it's grafted is to get the crest to grow faster. It would grow on it own roots and chlorophyll, but perhaps not as fast as a grafted specimen. If this is the case, it's definitely got to be a commercial strategy. :)

Thanks for the answers. If I see anymore I'll have to pick them up and try to get them growing on their own roots. Even if the rootstock was shorter it wouldn't be such an eyesore. Mine are both on about 6" of rootstock. Who knows, maybe some people like it? I'm not one of them.

Karyn,

FL's nailed it - you get a larger plant (and therefore, more money) in less time.

I planted mine with the rootstock completely in the soil a couple of years ago. My hope was that more roots would grow from the understock--its grown well, but I havent repotted it to look at the roots.
Mike

You're not the only one. I hate the grafts, love the crests.