The grafting reactivities with glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) of five xylans from hardwood and cereal sources were compared. The structural property that best predicted the reactivities of xylans with GMA was the fraction of 4-O-methylglucuronic acid (MeGlcA) substitution. A comparatively high level of arabinose substitution was also positively correlated to reactivity with GMA. The impact of MeGlcA and arabinose branching groups is likely attributed to the solubilizing effect of these substituents. Consistent with this prediction, low water solubility and high lignin content were found to hinder reactivity. Even though oligomeric substrates have the advantage of water solubility, modified xylo-oligosaccharides were difficult to purify. Accordingly, delignified and high-molecular weight xylans that are soluble or dispersible in water are best suited for this type of backbone derivatization. Adsorption studies with a quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation indicated that grafting lowered the total adsorption of arabinoxylan but did not significantly affect the fraction of xylans adsorbed irreversibly on cellulose.