About
A self-fertile apricot cultivar that is considered to be reliable in cool climates; suitable for southern and central areas of the UK. The white spring blossom is followed by small, roundish, fruits with deep orange skin, and rich, highly-flavoured, deep orange flesh. Cropping season: late August.
About the genus
Prunus can be deciduous or evergreen trees or shrubs with showy flowers in spring, and often good autumn foliage colour. Some have edible fruit in autumn, and a few species have ornamental bark
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun
Soil typeLoam, Sand, Clay
Soil pHAlkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained, Well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH4
Plant details
Plant typeFruit Edible
HabitBushy
FoliageDeciduous
Height2.5-4 metres
Spread2.5-4 metres
Time to full height5-10 years
Suggested usesCottage and informal garden, Wildlife gardens
ToxicitySeed kernels harmful if eaten, wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling Pets (dogs, rabbits, rodents): Harmful if eaten - for further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plantside the kernels of the fruit are harmful if eaten
Care notes
CultivationApricots flourish on deep, moisture-retentive, well-drained, ideally slightly alkaline soils and struggle in poor, shallow soils. Although fully hardy, they bloom early, and the flowers are vulnerable to frost, so trees need a warm, sheltered position. Protect blossom from frost at night, and hand pollinate if insects are scarce. See apricot cultivation for further advice
PruningMay be trained as a fan on a warm wall, or as a free-standing bush in milder areas, see How to grow: Apricots for more details. Train fan-trained trees in spring. Pruning established fans is carried out in early summer and after harvest
PropagationPropagate by grafting on rootstock for fruit. Seed-raised plants are likely to be inferior to the parent
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to aphids, brown scale, glasshouse red spider mite. Birds and squirrels may damage fruit
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to peach leaf curl, silver leaf, bacterial canker, blossom wilt and honey fungus