Apricot
Prunus armeniaca · Rosaceae
📷 Fir0002 · CC BY-SA 3.0
⚠️ Feuilles, tiges et noyaux ou graines mâchés contiennent des glycosides cyanogènes ; le risque dépend de la partie et de la quantité ingérées. Pour les espèces fruitières, la chair mûre dénoyautée est généralement sans danger.
The gardener's calendar
In autumn, ease off feeding and take the chance to clean up around apricot and prepare for winter.
ID card
- Family
- Rosaceae
- Type
- Fruit tree
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Flowering
- March to April
- Adult size
- Up to 4 m in height
- Hardiness
- Hardy, -15 to -20 °C
- Origin
- Central Asia and China
- Edibility
- Edible fruits
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability high.
Expert tips
The key tip
Prune hard (cut back by 1/3) immediately after spring flowering to encourage branching and improve fruiting.
The common mistake
Gardeners often forget to thin young fruits in June: leaving too many small fruits weakens the tree and reduces fruit size at harvest.
The pro's trick
In April-May, after bud break, spray a preventive fungicide against shot hole disease (small black holes) which damages leaves and compromises fruiting.
Care
Exposure and climate
Your apricot tree needs full sun to produce generously, ideally 6 to 8 hours per day. Choose a south or west-facing location, protected from cold winds that can damage early flowers. Good air circulation prevents fungal diseases.
Soil and planting
Your apricot tree prefers well-draining soil that is slightly chalky to neutral. Avoid overly wet or clayey ground. When planting, enrich the soil with compost or well-rotted manure to encourage rooting.
Watering
Water regularly during the first two years after planting to ensure proper establishment. Once established, your apricot tree tolerates relative drought but appreciates regular watering during dry periods, especially when fruit is forming.
Pruning and training
Prune in late winter or early spring, before growth resumes. Remove dead, crossing, or poorly oriented branches to open up the canopy. Lightly shorten this year's growth to encourage branching and balanced fruit production.
Nutrition and fertilizer
An annual application of well-rotted compost in spring is usually sufficient. Avoid excess nitrogen, which promotes foliage at the expense of fruit. A balanced fertilizer or one rich in potassium and phosphorus can be applied at the start of the growing season.
Diseases and pests
Your apricot tree can be affected by moniliosis (fruit rot) and powdery mildew in humid conditions. Ensure good air circulation, remove mummified fruits and affected branches. Watch for aphids in spring and intervene with gentle methods if needed.
Did you know?
The apricot tree originated in China and Central Asia, where it has been cultivated for over 4,000 years. It traveled via the Silk Road to reach Persia, then Armenia — from which its scientific name, Prunus armeniaca, comes, although it is not actually native to that region. The apricot represents a symbol of fertility and beauty in many Asian cultures.
Where to buy it
Best planted in autumn so the roots settle in before summer, or in early spring once the frost has passed. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, October, November.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
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Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.