12 Types of Apricot Tree: ID, Pics, Growing Zones, Apricot Trees Care Tips

Types of Apricot Trees

There are many types and variants of Apricots that grow throughout the summer months with different qualities,¹⁸ bloom periods, and pollination capabilities.

While most Apricots thrive in warm climates, some varieties have thrived and bore fruit in harsher environments at higher altitudes.

Below is a short list of some of the more common varieties and a brief description of each one.

How To Identify Apricot Tree

Apricot Trees can be identified by their widespread canopies, low branches, bright green and ovular leaves, and white and pink foliage.

They can be differentiated from other fruit trees in the months of May and June, when they typically begin to bear orange-yellow bulbous fruits, slightly resembling apples in all but their color.

Apricot Trees can also be differentiated by their height, as they typically do not grow taller than 30 feet.

Apricot Tree Flower

Blooming as early as February,⁷ Apricot Tree flowers are among the first to appear each spring. This makes the flowers available to pollinators while other plants have yet to bloom.

However, blooming so early makes Apricot Tree flowers vulnerable to frost.

Apricot Trees produce flower buds in the summer and fall. They sit dormant through the winter and are poised to open in early spring.

Not all varieties of Apricot Trees flower at the same time. In fact, some Apricot Trees, such as Goldcot and Tilton, have been bred in temperate climates so that they flower later in the spring or even in early summer.

If you wonder when you should prune versus when the tree flowers, you can stop worrying. No matter what, pruning in the late winter to early spring helps to encourage growth and flower production.

However, be careful not to over-prune. Too much pruning can cause a tree to become over-vigorous and put the bulk of its energy into growing new wood, stunting the growth of the flowers.

(Image: jjlaurentjj²⁰)

The ideal approach for flower production is to remove entire branches back to their point of origin, a so-called thinning-out cut. Trimming back the ends of branches, a heading cut, tends to stimulate plant growth and delay flowering.

Once an Apricot Tree flower has been pollinated, it will start to produce an Apricot. Some Apricot Trees are self-pollinating, while others require cross-pollination to bear fruit.

Apricot Tree Leaf (Apricot Tree Leaves)

Apricot Tree leaves are oval-shaped with a wide base and pointed tail,⁸ while the border of the leaf is heart-shaped with serrated edges.

The average leaf length can range from 5 to 10 centimeters long, and the width can vary from 4 to 8 centimeters across.

Apricot Tree Bloom (Apricot Flowers)

Apricot Trees usually bloom in late winter or early spring.⁹ Early blooming trees put out fruit after around 600 hours.

Late bloomers can take 1,000 thrilling hours.²

In bloom, the buds on the trees develop white and pink foliage, though it may take longer for them to bear fruit. Most Apricot fruit does not bear until at least two years after the planting period, with optimal harvest results occurring between 3 and 5 years.

Apricot flowers smell very sweet, like nectar and flowers and fruit at the same time, which makes them very attractive to pollinators (and gardeners).

Apricot Wood

The treetop of an Apricot Tree tends to be dense, but the trunk tends to be small compared to other trees. Among the types of trees with hardwood, Apricot Wood is like that of the Cherry Tree.¹⁰

Both have a similar color and texture, but Apricot wood is heavier and harder than Cherry wood.

As with other deciduous trees, the hardwood of an Apricot Tree is sturdy enough to be crafted into products that last the test of time.

The reddish-orange color of this wood is attractive when first carved and it tends to darken over time. Based on that description, you would think that Apricot wood is very popular and used to make all types of items.

It turns out, Apricot Trees are better at producing fruit than at producing wood. Apricot Trees also tend to be knotty, which is undesirable for many woodworking applications.

Therefore, Apricot wood tends to be used to make smaller crafts like bowls and trinkets, rather than tables and chairs.

Fruit Apricot

Like peaches, you can eat the fruit of the Apricot Tree straight off the branch, or out of a can. An uncooked Apricot is a sweet and tangy treat that is great all on its own.

However, there are also countless ways you can cook and bake with apricots.

Grilled apricots are a simple and contemporary approach to cooking these fruits. Simply cut them in half, remove the pit and place each half flesh side down on a hot grill.

The heat from the grill will caramelize sugars in the Apricots and soften the flesh.

(Image: RuffnerRobinson¹⁹)

After two or three minutes, remove the apricot halves and enjoy them with a topping of yogurt or sour cream. You can also add grilled apricots to a salad, sauce, or salsa.

Many preparations of apricots involve simmering them in water, sugar, and other ingredients. Blend this mixture to create an apricot puree for desserts or grilled proteins.

Add in gelatin or another emulsifier, and you’ve got apricot preserves. Or add in onions, ginger, garlic, and South Asian spices to create a chutney.

These are just a few ways to use the delicious fruit of the Apricot Tree. Your only culinary limitation is your imagination.

Apricot Tree Seeds

Cold storage is a capital idea for seeds that have been manually extracted from Apricots. This process is called seed stratification,¹¹ which consists of bagging and storing the seeds in a refrigerator for between one and three months to stimulate germination, after which you can grow your Apricot Tree straight from the seed.

Apricot Tree Facts (Prunus armeniaca)

Apricot Trees were first cultivated around 3,000 years ago in Eastern and Central Asia.¹ About 2000 years ago, the trees were brought to the Middle East and Mediterranean regions, where they became popular with Persians, Greeks, and Romans.

They’ve been so widely cultivated that where they originated is slightly uncertain.

The trees and their fruits became especially popular in the Islamic empire around 1,000 years ago. Taking influence from Persian cuisine at the time, Arabs used Apricots in both sweet and savory preparations.

(Image: eileenforte²¹)

To this day, Apricots can be found in all kinds of dishes from various Arabic cuisines.

Although it might seem like a Cherry Tree and an Apricot Tree have very little in common, both trees are part of the Rosaceae family, which also includes Apple and Almond trees. The Rosaceae family also includes ornamental trees and woody shrubs, including rose bushes, after which the family is named.

One of the more interesting facts about the fruit of an Apricot Tree is that they are considered unlucky in the US military, and by Marines in particular. The superstition began in World War II when it was said apricots were being carried on every single amphibious assault vehicle that had been destroyed by enemy forces.

Apricot anxiety in the Marines only grew during the Vietnam War, when the fruits were thought to somehow mystically attract incoming rockets for artillery fire.

The big finger of blame was pointed again at apricots during the Persian Gulf War, when the fruits were said to cause marines’ vehicles to break down. Perhaps as a precaution, apricots were officially removed from military rations in 1995.

To this day, many marines and four marines are hesitant to even say the word “Apricot.”

Growing an Apricot Tree From a Seed (How To Grow Apricot Tree From Seed)

Growing an Apricot Tree from seeds is a relatively straightforward, but time-consuming process. After planting their first seed, prospective farmers may not reap the fruits (no pun intended) of their labor for anywhere between 2 and 5 years.

Still, you can take the seed from the pit of your random apricot, let it dry for a few hours, and dig yourself a 6 inch hole with a sharp-edged tool.

If you prefer to germinate the seed in a paper towel, you can store it in a plastic bag or put it in Tupperware with consistent natural light. Once you see the roots emerge, you’ll know they are ready for planting.

Growing an Apricot Tree From a Cutting

While growing an Apricot Tree from a cutting certainly isn’t easy, it can be done with the proper technique.

Start by taking a 4- to 6-inch cutting from the end of a branch when the Apricot Tree is dormant, from late fall to early winter. Be sure to cut the branch just below where a leaf stamp attaches to the branch, a location referred to as the node.

Roots are most likely to grow from a node and if you leave too much room below the node, the end of your branch may start rotting.

Once you have your cutting, remove any flowers and lower leaves; keeping two or three leaves at the top of the branch. Fill a small container with wet potting soil and insert a pencil down into the soil to create a 1-inch well in the soil.

Dip the cut end of your branch in rooting hormone and gently insert this tip into the hole you’ve created. Gently pack the soil around the end of your cutting.

Ensure good contact but don’t pack the soil tightly. Cover the cutting and its container filled with wet soil with a small plastic bag to create a moist environment.

Inflate the bag with air to prevent the leaves from touching the sides of the bag, which can cause them to get moldy.

Place the pot in indirect sunlight for four to 8 weeks and occasionally water the soil to keep it moist. If you are successful, roots should form and you should be able to plant your sapling once spring arrives.

A more effective way to grow an Apricot Tree from a cutting is to graft it onto rootstock. Creating a brick tree is essentially Frankenstein’s-monster sounding complicated, but it’s actually pretty easy.

Start by making sure that you’re cutting -or “scion” as it’s referred to when grafting- and that your rootstock has about the same diameter.

A fairly straightforward approach called cleft grafting involves cutting a V-shaped notch in one end of the rootstock and carving the grafting end of your scion into a ‘V’ shape. Insert the scion into the rootstock and use grafting tape to secure the connection.

That’s the best way to grow an Apricot Tree from a cutting.

How To Prune Apricot Tree

Properly pruning an Apricot Tree keeps it healthy and facilitates the growth of fruit,³ probably why you are growing an Apricot Tree in the first place.

(Image: Elena Mozhvilo²²)

Before starting to prune an Apricot Tree, you need to grab the right tools. Pruning shears are best for trimming branches of an Apricot Tree that are about the size of your thumb or smaller.

Requiring two hands to use, loppers are basically pruning shears on steroids. With long handles that create more cutting force, loppers allow you to prune branches about the size of your wrist or smaller.

Pruning saws are used for limbs larger than a wrist.

Once you have the necessary tools to prune an Apricot Tree, start by clearing out dead or dying branches. Crowded branches and branches that are growing up rather than out are the ones you should clear out.

Your goal in pruning is to increase the airflow inside the tree’s canopy. If it’s a mature Apricot, you’ll want to trim about one-fifth of the branches to make room for the fruit.

If a branch doesn’t have any leaves, it is a good candidate for pruning.

Pruning Apricot Tree: When To Prune an Apricot Tree

Pruning is appropriate when the tree sap flow is lower, and that’s usually early spring when the tree is poised for new growth. Early Spring is a good time also because, with fewer leaves, it’s easier to see.

Pruning is absolutely essential at certain times in the life of an Apricot Tree. After planting a sapling, you should prune it soon after it spreads its third set of leaves.

This helps prepare the way for future fruit growth.

In the years following, the occasional pruning will reinforce the fecund structure formed by pruning that sapling. Even after an Apricot Tree is fully mature, the occasional pruning of new growth can help to optimize fruit production.

Apricot Tree Disease Prevention

You must be vigilant to prevent Apricot Trees from being weakened by disease, pests, and other growth problems. Invasive species such as Fruit Tree Leaf Rollers, squirrels, Japanese Beetles, mites, tree borers, and other pests that feed on plant juices, which would be fine, it’s the circle of life, after all, but they can damage the tree’s structural foundation, as well as its fruits, which you don’t want.

Often, the introduction of insects, garden pests, fungi, and other invasive species can increase the likelihood of disease.⁸ For some of these cases, a fungicide can be used routinely to combat the spread of disease during the bloom period.

Depending on the growth climate and location, Apricot Trees can also be susceptible to bacterial infections that can develop without consistent fertilization, pruning, and soil moisture practices.

Gardeners should make sure not to over-water their trees, treat soil with fungicide regularly, and plant in disease-free areas as best practices for disease prevention.

Pests should be monitored on a routine basis to make sure the plant is protected from long-term damage. This includes removing weeds, loose bark, and other debris from tree bases where leaf rollers and other crawlers like to settle and wreak havoc.

Using insecticide can also help protect your Apricot Trees from diseases while in bloom.

How To Stop Apricot Tree Disease

It’s not easy to stop Apricot Tree disease, especially once they get a foothold on the tree. The fungi might stunt the tree’s terminal growth and leaf development to the point where the tree straight up dies.

Armillaria fungus is annoyingly resilient. It can even survive in dead tree roots and cannot be expunged from the soil.

So, it’s not advisable to plant Apricot in any spot with a history of Armillaria fruiting bodies. Once the tree is infected, there is no cure and the root rot gets into the soil.

Growing Zones for Apricot Tree: Where To Grow (Apricot Tree Growing Zone)

Apricot Trees are among the first to bloom in the early spring. Unfortunately, this means that Apricot Tree fruit buds and blossoms are highly vulnerable to frost and mold in temperate zones.

Because of this, Apricot Trees are usually planted for their ornamental value, with fruit production considered a bonus. However, if you’re creating an Apricot farm, you’re going to want to choose the zone carefully.

If you plant your Apricot Trees between USDA Hardiness Zones 4 through 9, they are likely to prosper.⁴

(Image: Dinkun Chen²³)

There are a few late-blooming cultivars that have the best chance of yielding fruit year after year. Chinese, Moorpark, Goldrich, Tilton, and Harglow are all late-blooming and relatively hardy varieties.¹²

Growing an Apricot Tree From a Seedling

There are lots of ways to grow your Apricot Tree, but from a seedling, you’ll want to plant them in a one-gallon container with good potting soil. Make sure to plant the seedling root end down, and water it regularly.

It should sprout in a couple of weeks.

Watering Needs for Apricot Tree Plants

The plant’s roots should be placed in a hole about twice the width of the root ball. Once planted, pack the soil tightly and pour some water over it.¹³

Ideally, you’d plant your seeds in late winter or early spring.

What Are Common Pests of the Apricot Tree?

A variety of pests,¹⁴ mostly insects and arachnids, afflict Apricot Trees and can cause major damage to them. Some of these pests can be eliminated, but others are slippery and evasive.

Spiders, for example, will slip through your fingers.

Bugs that like the Apricot sap such as aphids and mites can really mess up a tree if they are able to build large numbers. When these parasites suck up all the sap, the harvest will be skinny and the tree will lose its leaves.

These bugs can also make an Apricot Tree more vulnerable to other pests. Spraying all parts of a tree with insecticide can help remove these bugs and prevent an infestation.

Boring insects, including some species of moths and beetles, will dig deep into the trunk of an Apricot Tree to lay their eggs. When the eggs hatch, the offspring of these insects bore their way out of the tree trunk.

As you can imagine, all this boring can cause significant damage to a tree. Because boring insects are difficult to remove, it is critical to prevent an infestation.

These types of insects tend to prefer trees in distress and keeping an Apricot Tree healthy is an effective way to prevent an infestation of boring insects.

Foliage-eating pests, like caterpillars and beetles, cause cosmetic damage in mild cases and serious damage in severe cases. Physical removal and pesticides are two effective ways to remove these pests.

Fungus is another typical pest that afflicts Apricot Trees. Symptoms include a fan-shaped white fungus that appears between the bark and wood.

The fruit is also susceptible to diseases such as fog spot,¹⁵ which manifests in blotches of small red dots on the skin of unripe Apricots.

In addition, the Apricots can get infected with tan spores called ripe fruit rot. Overwatering or heavy rains can cause an outbreak of ripe fruit rot, which can be devastating to your crop.¹⁶

The fruit is highly susceptible to this, so it’s something you have to be on your guard for as soon as the Apricots turn orange. Any heavy thunderstorms occurring during the last two or three weeks before harvest time may oblige you to treat your fruit.

(Image: u_d0txfhg08m²⁴)

With the caveat that you should never apply sulfur or captan to Apricot Trees, there are pesticides such as propiconazole,¹⁷ pyraclostrobin, or fenbuconazole that can stop ripe fruit rot.

Rust can afflict the leaves, but you can eradicate it with a protective fungicide one or more months before harvest.

Ultimately, almost all the common pests of the Apricot Tree can be managed with the right ingredients.

What Is a Natural Pest Control for Apricot Tree?

While you can use pesticides to keep critters at bay, there are also effective natural pest controls. Aphids, caterpillars, moths, and other pests can decimate an Apricot Tree, decreasing fruit production and even killing the plant.

Probably the most natural and least intrusive way to control Apricot Tree pests is to encourage and attract pest predators.¹⁷ The larvae of ladybugs, hoverflies, and lacewings all prey on common Apricot Tree pests.

Daisies, Lavender, Asters, and other nectar-rich perennial flowers can attract these pest predators and should be planted near Apricot Trees. A bug hotel made with hollow stems can provide overwintering habitat for ladybugs and hoverflies.

Another natural and unintrusive way to control Apricot Tree pests is to spray them down with a powerful jet of water in the early spring. Aphids lay eggs during autumn on new shoots of an Apricot Tree.

A strong jet of water should be able to dislodge aphid eggs.

Sometimes, it may be necessary to use an organic winter wash that is capable of destroying the eggs of aphids and other pests.

Planting Tips for Apricot Tree: Do You Need Two Apricot Trees To Get Fruit?

Many but not all varieties of Apricot Tree are self-fruitful, meaning they pollinate themselves in order to reproduce, instead of requiring cross-pollination or requiring pollen from another plant.⁵

If you are thinking about planting a single Apricot Tree in your backyard and want it to produce fruit, make sure the variety that you are planting doesn’t need to be pollinated by another Apricot Tree.

Even if your Apricot Tree is self-fruitful, it will be more productive if there’s another variety with a similar bloom time nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions About Apricot Tree