Prunus armeniaca (Apricots)

Botanical name: Prunus armeniaca
Common name(s): Apricots
Categories: Fruits and Vegetables, Trees

Plant description:

Apricots are very adaptable and hardy, but they grow best in temperate climates, as flowers and small fruits can be damaged by late frosts and strong winds. As apricots are self-fertile they make ideal garden trees.

Family: Rosaceae

Botanical Pronunciation: PROO-nus ar-men-ee-AH-kuh

Prunus armeniaca requirements and features

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Evergreen

Never Sheds All of Its Foliage.

Semi Deciduous

Sheds Part of Its Foliage During Winter/Autumn.

Deciduous

Sheds Its Leaves Annually

Full Sun

Prefers 6 or more hours of sun per day.

Half Sun

Prefers 3 To 6 Hours of Sunlight a Day.

Shade

Prefers Low Light Levels.

Frost Hardy

Can Handle frost without damage.

Semi Frost Hardy

Is Able to Survive Moderately Low Temperatures.

Frost Sensitive

Will Get Damaged and Possibly Killed During Periods of Frost.

High Watering

Requires Frequent Watering.

Moderate Watering

Requires Regular Watering.

Low Watering

Requires Little Water.

High Maintenance

Requires Regular Maintenance.

Moderate Maintenance

Requires moderate maintenance.

Low Maintenance

Requires little maintenance.

Pruning Required

Needs to be Pruned.

Indigenous

Originates in South Africa.

Non Indigenous

Exotic to South Africa.

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Plant Attributes
Additional Information

Botanical name	Prunus armeniaca
Plant Care	Deciduous Deciduous – Sheds Its Leaves Annually Full Sun Full Sun – Prefers 6 or more hours of sun per day. Frost Hardy Frost Hardy – Can Handle frost without damage. Moderate Watering Moderate Watering – Requires Regular Watering. Pruning Required Pruning Required – Needs to be Pruned. Non Indigenous Non Indigenous – Exotic to South Africa.
Size	6 m *
Categories	Fruits and Vegetables Trees
Common name(s)	Apricots
Origin	China
Uses in landscape design	As apricots are self-fertile they make ideal garden trees.
Maintenance	Water well every two weeks during dry weather. Apricots are shaped when planted and thereafter do not need annual pruning, although excess branches can be thinned in winter. You need only remove the very lowest spreading branches, those that could interfere with the cultivation of the soil.
Fruit	Apricots bear their fruit on spurs. Pick fruit when fully mature and ripe (it does ripen a little after picking).
Soil conditions	Well drained , Fertile
Interesting planting ideas	Basil, nasturtiums, blue flax, peaches, buckwheat, rosemary, southernwood and tansy can be planted around apricot trees, as they are great companion plants. Do not plant brinjals, potatoes or tomatoes anywhere near apricot trees, they impede each other's growth. Apricot trees also dislike barley, oats, wheat and fruit salad plant.
Interesting info	In recent years, apricot kernels have been used in cancer therapy, and the rich oil in cosmetics.
Common pests and diseases	Codling moth; fruit fly; pernicious scale; powdery mildew.
Recommended varieties	Alpha’, ‘Bulida’, ‘Early Cape’, ‘Peeka’, ‘Royal’, ‘Soldonne’.
Harvest	Apricots bear their fruit on spurs. Pick fruit when fully mature and ripe (it does ripen a little after picking).

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Prunus armeniaca (Apricots)