An apricot is a fruit, or the tree that bears the fruit, of several species in the genus Prunus. Usually, an apricot tree is from the species P. armeniaca, but the species P. brigantina, P. mandshurica, P. mume, P. zhengheensis and P. sibirica are closely related, have similar fruit, and are also called apricots .
There are a lot of Apricot tree varieties.
Aprium
Floyd Zaiger, the father of exotic fruit, bred an Apricot and Plumcot, to create the "Aprium Apricot." He also named the new fruit and trademarked it. The normal cross breeding ratio for an Aprium is 25% Plum and 75% Apricot, but various percentages have been used. Because the Apricot genetics are so prominent in the Aprium (around 75%), an Aprium tends to look more like Apricots, with bright orange skins and flesh and taste more like Apricots. However, Apriums are a bit sweeter and have a hint of plum.
August Glo
Medium-size apricot with a great sweet-tart flavor. Late harvest.
Autumn Royal
The fruit of the Autumn Royal Apricot Tree is an oval, medium to large apricot with pale orange, firm, juicy flesh. This high quality apricot has yellow skin with an orange cheek and is valuable as fresh fruit, canning, or drying. Autumn Royal is the only late ripening apricot known. The Autumn Royal Apricot Tree's fruit ripens in September.
Blenheim
Blenheim apricot tree is a seedling planted in the Luxembourg Gardens of Paris, where it was introduced as the Royal around 1815. It made its next appearance in England at Blenheim Palace where it was called Shipley’s Blenheim apricot tree. The Blenheim apricot is a smaller apricot that tends to have a green shoulder, ripen from the inside, never really getting the total apricot color, but even on the side of green will have the full apricot flavor. This old favorite's sweet aromatic flavor sets the standard for apricots. Very juicy, orange freestone flesh. Famous in California for its canning quality; also good for drying. Medium to large orange fruit with crimson dots. Needs warm, dry weather during bloom.
Chinese (Mormon)
Chinese Mormon Apricot Tree produces heavy crops of medium, yellow to orange fruit with excellent flavor and texture very early in the growing season. It blooms late with frost-resistant buds, making it an excellent choice for areas with later Spring frosts. It has what people call a Sweet Pit because you can actually eat the kernel like you would an almond. This Apricot requires about 700 hours of chill time below 45º F.
Garden Annie
Garden Annie is an early season fruiting variety, with good sized bright yellow fruit that are firm and juicy as well as being semi-freestone. A highly ornamental tree that is semi-dwarf, so is well suited to home gardens especially in the warmer areas of the country.
Gold Kist
Gold Kist Apricot trees are an early bearing variety and known for reliable production, especially in warmer areas. Its botanical name is Prunus armeniaca and these are native to China, bearing a juicy and flavorful fruit ideal for canning, preserves, and eating fresh of the tree. These self-fertile trees are excellent for any backyard in Houston, so we love to plant them where they can be easily picked by anyone. Moon Valley Nurseries offers low chill Gold Kist trees in a variety of sizes. These are considered to be 'the best backyard apricot for warm winter climates. Gold Kist trees love to grow where there is plenty of full sun exposure. These are small to medium trees and once established, they have low to moderate watering needs. They look great no matter where you have them planted and we love to plant them as an attractive tree that everyone will love. The small golden fruits contrast beautifully with the green foliage. We also love to plant them near windows, where the fragrant white or pink flowers in the spring can fill your home with a wonderful scent!
Goldcot
Goldcot Apricot is an apricot built for the cold! Researchers bred Goldcot Apricot in Michigan’s snow belt so you know it’s going to be hardy, vigorous and reliable. Fruit is freestone with golden yellow skin and flesh and has a deep tangy flavor that is perfect for fresh eating or canning. Ripens in early July, self-fertile
Golden Amber
The Golden Amber tree fruits are large and have a light orange skin with excellent flavor. The are wonderful fresh or canned. They have a prolonged progressive period of almost 30 days and a similar ripening period. Golden Amber's are pit burn resistant.
Harcot
This large fruited Canadian variety, Harcot Apricot Fruit Tree is one of the best. Blooms are hardy to late frosts and fruit is yellow-orange skin with sweet juicy, richly flavored flesh. Very resistant to brown rot and perennial canker.
Harglow
A luminous apricot. This variety features medium-sized fruit with a gorgeous bright-orange color. Exceptional flavor and texture make it great for fresh eating, cooking, and preserving. Tree is compact and productive – perfect for small spaces! Disease-resistant to bacterial canker and brown rot. Late-blooming, avoids late spring frosts. Originates from Ontario, Canada, introduced in 1982. Freestone. Ripens in early July. Self-pollinating.
Hargrand
Hargrand is a Canadian breeding of apricots made by Richard Leyne from Harrow in Ontario. It is a very hardy and tasty apricot variety from 1979. The fruit is large if thinned in late spring. It has orange skin with some red pigment spots and mature from the first week of August. The flesh is sweet, juicy, and freestone. Fruit is great for fresh consumption and fresh market sale as well as processing. It is self-fertile (needs no other tree to pollinate its flowers), disease resistant, and very productive.
Harogem
Harogem is a Canadian breeding of apricots made by Richard Leyne from Harrow in Ontario. It is a very hardy and tasty apricot variety from 1979. The fruit is beautiful with glossy skin that is red on almost 60% of its surface. Ripening is quite uniform from first week August. The flesh is sweet and freestone. Fruit is great for fresh consumption and fresh market sale as well as processing. It is self-fertile (needs no other tree to pollinate its flowers), resistant to canker, and very productive.
Katy
Katy Apricot, Prunus armeniaca 'Katy', is a fruit-bearing tree that produces remarkable fruit, and is especially adaptable to warmer climates. Plant one (or better yet, several), in your side yard where you can enjoy the sights of your own personal apricot orchard all summer long. Your Katy Apricot tree has many admirable features, but perhaps its most attractive asset is its early ripening nature. While friends and family are still waiting for their fruit trees to produce, you'll already be picking your Katy Apricots in the month of May! The tree-ripened fruit is not acidic in taste and has a lively golden skin with orange overtones. Katy Apricot is a highly productive tree, so you're sure to enjoy a sumptuous harvest. The large, firm fruit is perfect for a wide variety of culinary uses, such as desserts, jams and jellies and is especially great for drying due to its high sugar content. It even freezes and cans well...and of course it tastes great right off the tree. As if the delicious fruit wasn't enough, your Katy Apricot is also a pretty tree, blooming with fragrant, white flowers in spring and maintaining vibrant, green foliage throughout summer. It is amenable to pruning, allowing you to trim to the height you prefer (and adding to ease of harvest). Katy Apricot is self-fertile, but as with most fruiting trees, will do better with a cross-pollinator. Katy Apricot was introduced in 1978 and continues to be a popular choice among gardeners. Try one of these incredible, early-harvest apricot trees this year. You'll be glad you did!
Manchurian
Prunus mandshurica, commonly known as Manchurian apricot, is a small upright tree with a rounded spreading crown than typically matures to 15-20’ (less frequently to 30’) tall. It is native to mixed forests and mountain slopes in Manchuria (northeast China/southeast Russia) and Korea. It is better known for its often superb early spring ornamental display of pink flowers than for its fruit which, although edible fresh off the tree, lacks the quality necessary to compete with the apricots produced for human consumption in commercial orchards (mostly Prunus armeniaca cultivated varieties). Manchurian apricot fruits are smaller, yellowish in color and not as tasty as the commercially sold varieties. Excellent winter hardiness (USDA Zone 3), however, has encouraged hybridizers to use Manchurian apricot in breeding new edible varieties with better frost resistance. Manchurian apricot was first listed by Karl Maximovich in 1883 as Prunus armeniaca var. mandshurica, but is now known as Prunus mandshurica. Accepted nomenclature for this plant is currently unresolved. Apricots are stone fruits which have smooth-to-pubescent golden orange skin, fleshy fruit and a center pit or stone. Notable features of Manchurian apricot include: (a) glossy, broad ovate to elliptic, green leaves (to 4” long) with serrated margins, (b) showy, shell pink, single flowers (to 1” diameter) which bloom along the branches in early spring (April-early May), (c) golf-ball sized edible yellow apricots (to 1 1/2" diameter) which mature in mid to late summer (July), (d) orange-yellow fall color, and (e) attractive reddish-brown bark. Genus name from Latin means plum or cherry tree. Specific epithet refers to the native territory of Manchurian apricot.
Montrose
In 1952 a farmer named Lloyd Rosenvold found a seedling apricot growing in Montrose, Colorado where temperatures commonly reach 30 below zero. He took seedlings from this tree and grew them out in Idaho and named the best tasting one ‘Montrose’. The Montrose Apricot Fruit Tree is extremely cold hardy, resists late frost, freestone, and delicious! Fruit has a red blush, ripens late and has a sweet edible pit!
Moongold
Small, deciduous, fruit bearing tree. Flowers bloom white in spring becoming small peach-like fruits that ripen in late-July. Apricots tend to be very adaptable to dry conditions. Fruit is best when moderate water is provided and when they are properly maintained.
Newcastle
The Newcastle Apricot, also called the Newcastle Early, is popular Down Under in Australia and New Zealand but is believed to have been bred/discovered in the orchard of 0. M. Silva & Son of Newcastle, Ca. in Placer County in 1881. The Newcastle Apricot is a self-fruitful, Freestone Apricot with a small-sized to medium-sized, round fruit. Newcastle Apricots have a golden yellow skin with a brilliant red “cheek” if exposed to direct sunlight.
Perfection (Goldbeck)
Perfection Apricot is a very productive and hardy tree and one of the finest of the commercial apricots. Fruit is very large with bright orange-yellow skin and flesh and performs very well in areas where late spring frosts are a problem.
Plum Parfait
Plum Parfait Plumcot is a interspecific hybrid of plum and apricot that has a very unique blend of flavors of both parents. Fruits have a pinkish orange skin with crimson and amber marbled freestone flesh. Blooms are very early so not recommended for areas with areas with late frosts. Trees are small and compact.
Puget Gold
The Puget Gold Apricot was developed in western Washington and is the easiest to grow and most disease resistant Apricot variety we have found. Delectably sweet and tender, fully ripe Apricots are a unique taste treat. Difficult to ship when ripe, Apricots are best gown at home or purchased from a local farmer. Apricots are also a challenge to grow west of the Cascade Mountains. Out wet winters lead to disease problems and flowers can be hurt by late frost. Our tasty, sweet, late-blooming varieties Puget Gold Apricot and Hoyt Montrose Apricot are ones that do the best in the Northwest Climate. Apricots like half day to full day sun, well drained soil and begin bearing in 2-3 years. They are hardy to minus 25 degree F., (USDA Zone 4) and grow 10-12 ft in height. To help prevent disease problems, spray with copper in fall and again in winter and early spring. Apricots are usually not bothered by insect pest in our region.
Rival
A Canadian variety of apricot, similar to Goldrich. Produces a large tree with a bountiful number of large superior succulent fruit. Orange with a red cheek. They may grow on a trellis, but will want to grow larger than a Moorpark. Requires a Goldrich or Moorpark for pollination.
Royal Rosa
Royal Rosa is a very early, freestone selection with firm tasty gold flesh, yellow skin with a red blush. A disease hardy, low chill selection recommended for home gardens throughout New Zealand.
Royalty
This very large early fruiting apricot was introduced to the L. E. Cooke Co in 1970 by Walter Krause of Redwood Nursery, Reedley, California. Royalty sets fruit as a young tree and ripens for us in early June. The tree sets very large fruit on the heavy wood in the tree which is an asset in windy areas. The variety is freestone, self fertile, very large, good flavor, ripening very early before the summer heat. The original trees were sold by Mr. Krause in Idaho, Utah, Michigan and the California San Joaquin Valley. While the fruit quality is large and excellent flavor, the tree does not set a heavy crop. Fruit size mitigates some of this.
Sungold
A hardy apricot selection with showy white flowers in early spring followed by delicious golden fruit blushed red in mid-summer, excellent for jam; quite ornamental, needs full sun and a pollinator; flowers can be damaged by late spring frosts Edible Qualities Sungold Apricot is a small tree that is commonly grown for its edible qualities. It produces gold round fruit (technically 'drupes') with a orange blush and orange flesh which are usually ready for picking in mid summer. Note that the fruits have hard inedible pits inside which must be removed before eating or processing. The fruits have a sweet taste and a juicy texture.
Tilton
A long-time favorite for its exceptionally rich flavor and aroma, Prunus armeniaca 'Moorpark' is a small to medium sized apricot tree adorned with profuse clusters of pink and white flowers in spring. They are followed by large, freestone, golden-yellow fruits which ripen over a long period in mid to late summer.
Tomcot
Tomcot is a modern large-fruited apricot variety, and one of the best-suited to temperate climates. It can be grown with some success in most southern and central areas of the UK. Unlike shop-bought apricots which are usually picked slightly under-ripe and tend to have a yellow skin, home-grown apricots will usually have an orange/red colouring - and Tomcot will become a dusky red colour when fully ripe. Tomcots ripen from the middle to end of July in the UK. If it looks like the fruit is not going to fully ripen, leave as late as possible and then pick and ripen indoors. If you are looking for something a bit different for your garden or home orchard, Tomcot makes an interesting choice. For the best results train it as a fan against a south-facing wall.
Wenatchee Moorpark
This fruit tree is known for its juicy, sweet-tasting apricots that are good for fresh eating, canning, or drying. Harvest time spans from early July to early August, but the fruit does not ripen all at once. The fast-growing Moorpark apricot tree is self-fertile, but planting two varieties is recommended for a better crop. Beyond bearing fruit, the tree is also considered an attractive landscape tree, with its spring bloom of whitish-pink flowers.
9 Health and Nutrition Benefits of Apricots
Apricots (Prunus armeniaca) are stone fruits also known as Armenian plums.
Round and yellow, they look like a smaller version of a peach but share the tartness of purple plums.
They’re extremely nutritious and have many health benefits, such as improved digestion and eye health.
Here are 9 health and nutrition benefits of apricots.
1. Very nutritious and low in calories
Apricots are very nutritious and contain many essential vitamins and minerals.
Just 2 fresh apricots (70 grams) provide :
Calories: 34
Carbs: 8 grams
Protein: 1 gram
Fat: 0.27 grams
Fiber: 1.5 grams
Vitamin A: 8% of the Daily Value (DV)
Vitamin C: 8% of the DV
Vitamin E: 4% of the DV
Potassium: 4% of the DV
What’s more, the same serving provides 2–4% of the RDI for manganese, copper, and the vitamins A, E, B1, B2, and B6.
Furthermore, this fruit is a decent source of beta carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin, all of which are potent antioxidants that help fight free radicals in your body .
It’s best to enjoy apricots whole and unpeeled, as the skin boasts large amounts of fiber and nutrients. Be sure to discard the stone, as it’s inedible.
Summary Apricots are low in calories and fat while also an excellent source of vitamins A and C.
2. High in antioxidants
Apricots are a great source of many antioxidants, including beta carotene and vitamins A, C, and E.
What’s more, they’re high in a group of polyphenol antioxidants called flavonoids, which have been shown to protect against illnesses, including diabetes and heart disease .
The main flavonoids in apricots are chlorogenic acids, catechins, and quercetin .
These compounds work to neutralize free radicals, which are harmful compounds that damage your cells and cause oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is linked to obesity and many chronic diseases, such as heart disease .
In one study in 2,375 people, researchers developed a scoring system to measure changes in levels of inflammatory markers.
They found that high flavonoid and anthocyanin intakes were associated with a 42% and 73% lower inflammation score, respectively. High flavonoid intake was also tied to a 56% lower oxidative stress score .
Summary Apricots contain numerous antioxidants, most notably flavonoids. They help protect your body from oxidative stress, which is linked to many chronic diseases.
3. May promote eye health
Apricots boast multiple compounds that are essential for eye health, including vitamins A and E .
Vitamin A plays a vital role in preventing night blindness, a disorder caused by lack of light pigments in your eyes, while vitamin E is a fat-soluble antioxidant that enters your eyes directly to protect them from free radical damage .
Meanwhile, beta carotene — which gives apricots their yellow-orange color — serves as a precursor to vitamin A, meaning that your body can convert it into this vitamin .
Other important apricot carotenoids include lutein and zeaxanthin. Found in the lenses and retinas of your eyes, they safeguard against oxidative stress .
Summary Apricots are an excellent source of beta carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, and vitamins C and E. These nutrients protect your eyes against damage.
4. May boost skin health
Eating apricots may benefit your skin.
The main causes of wrinkles and skin damage are environmental factors, such as the sun, pollution, and cigarette smoke .
What’s more, research indicates a direct link between ultraviolet (UV) light exposure, sunburns, and your risk of melanoma, a deadly form of skin cancer .
Notably, you can fight some of this skin damage through a healthy diet full of antioxidants, which apricots provide.
Vitamins C and E, both found in this fruit, may aid your skin. In particular, vitamin C protects against UV damage and environmental pollutants by neutralizing free radicals .
Furthermore, this vitamin helps build collagen, which gives your skin strength and elasticity. Eating a diet high in vitamin C can help your skin heal from UV damage and prevent wrinkles .
Beta carotene, another apricot nutrient, may protect against sunburns. In a 10-week study, supplementing with beta carotene reduced sunburn risk by 20% .
While you should still use sunscreen, munching on apricots may offer additional protection.
Summary Apricots are naturally high in antioxidants, which guard against environmental damage from sunlight, pollution, and cigarette smoke. These compounds may benefit your skin by lowering your risk of wrinkles and sunburn.
5. May promote gut health
Apricots may promote gut health.
One cup (165 grams) of sliced apricots provides 3.3 grams of fiber, which is 8.6% and 13.2% of the DV for men and women, respectively .
Apricots contain both soluble and insoluble fiber. The soluble kind dissolves in water and includes pectin, gums, and long chains of sugar called polysaccharides, while the insoluble kind doesn’t dissolve in water and includes cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin .
Apricots are particularly high in soluble fiber, which is important for maintaining healthy blood sugar and cholesterol levels .
Furthermore, fiber delays the movement of food through your digestive tract and feeds your beneficial gut bacteria. A healthier gut microbiome is linked to a lower risk of obesity .
While a single apricot (35 grams) holds only 0.7 grams of fiber, it’s easy to eat a few in one sitting .
Summary Apricots are a good source of soluble fiber, which feeds your healthy gut bacteria and may boost digestive health.
6. High in potassium
Apricots are high in potassium, a mineral that also serves as an electrolyte. In your body, it’s responsible for sending nerve signals and regulating muscle contractions and fluid balance .
Two apricots (70 grams) provide 181 mg of this mineral, which is 4% of the DV.
As potassium works closely with sodium to maintain fluid balance, adequate intake may help prevent bloating and maintain healthy blood pressure .
One analysis of 33 studies found that a diet rich in potassium significantly reduced blood pressure and resulted in a 24% lower risk of stroke .
Summary Potassium aids nerve signaling, muscle contractions, and fluid balance. Eating potassium-rich foods, such as apricots, may help prevent high blood pressure and reduce your risk of stroke.
7. Very hydrating
Like most fruits, apricots are naturally high in water, which can help regulate blood pressure, body temperature, joint health, and heart rate .
One cup (165 grams) of sliced, fresh apricots provides almost 2/3 cup (142 ml) of water .
As most people don’t drink enough water, eating fresh fruit can help you reach your daily needs.
If you’re dehydrated, your blood volume drops, forcing your heart to work harder to pump blood. Furthermore, staying hydrated allows your blood to circulate waste products and nutrients throughout your body .
What’s more, eating apricots can be an easy way to replenish both water and electrolyte loss after exercise, as this fruit offers good amounts of water and potassium .
Summary Apricots are naturally high in water, which is important for staying hydrated. Proper hydration is vital for several aspects of health, including blood pressure and heart rate.
8. May protect your liver
Some data suggests that apricots may help protect your liver from oxidative stress .
In two animal studies, rats fed alcohol and apricots had lower levels of liver enzymes and markers of inflammation than rats given alcohol but no apricots .
This research suggests that apricots may help prevent liver damage because of their naturally high antioxidant content.
That said, it’s hard to know whether this fruit provides the same benefit in humans. More research is necessary.
Summary In two rat studies, apricots were found to protect the liver from oxidative stress caused by the ingestion of alcohol. Yet, human studies are needed.
9. Easy to add to your diet
Both fresh and dried apricots make for a quick, delicious snack or an easy addition to your favorite meal. You can add them to your diet in a variety of ways, including:
stirred into trail mix or granola
eaten fresh as a snack
sliced and added to yogurt or salad
used in jams, preserves, and salsas
stewed in a slow-cooker with meat, such as chicken or beef
added to desserts like pies, cakes, and pastries
As they’re sweet and tart, apricots can be used as a replacement for peaches or plums in most recipes.
Summary Both fresh and dried apricots are widely available. You can eat them on their own or add them to your favorite dishes, sides, or desserts.
The Bottom Line
Apricots are a delicious fruit packed with vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants. They have multiple benefits, including improved eye, skin, and gut health.
Fresh or dried, apricots are easy to add to yogurt, salads, and main meals.
If you’re used to eating peaches and plums, apricots can be a great way to change up your routine.
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