Prunus armeniacaApricot

The Prunus armeniaca, or Apricot, is a spreading deciduous tree out of Central Asia and northern China, carried west along the old trade routes through Persia and into the Mediterranean. It flowers on bare wood in late winter, opening white to pale pink well before the broad glossy leaves arrive, and fruits in early summer.

It is planted as much for the blossom as for the crop, in orchards, courtyards and small parks where the late winter flowering is worth having.

Specifications

• Height6 to 10 metres, with grafted orchard trees usually held at 3 to 5 metres
• Width4 to 8 metres
• Native toCentral Asia and northern China, with a long history of cultivation through Persia and the Mediterranean
• FoliageBroad, ovate, glossy mid-green leaves turning yellow in autumn; deciduous
• Growth rateModerate

Conditions

• SoilPrefers deep, well-drained loam and will not tolerate heavy or waterlogged ground
• LightFull sun
• WaterModerate; regular through fruit development
• ClimateThrives in warm temperate and continental regions with a defined cold winter

Additional Features

• FlowersWhite to pale pink blossom carried on bare wood in late winter and early spring
• FruitVelvety orange fruit ripening in early summer
• UsesIdeal for orchard planting, blossom and fruiting feature trees, and courtyard and small park planting
• SpacingPlant 5 to 7 metres apart for an orchard or open grouping
• Low MaintenanceRequires annual attention rather than none: prune in dry weather to limit disease and thin the crop in heavy years
• Pest ResistanceSusceptible to bacterial canker and brown rot where humidity is high at flowering
• Seasonal AppealLate winter blossom, an early summer crop and yellow autumn foliage in one tree
• Frost ToleranceHardy when dormant, but the early blossom is vulnerable to late frosts

The Apricot is a productive tree with a genuine ornamental season, provided the site gives it winter chill and a dry spring.