In the past, apricot trees were considered sensitive and cultivation in Central Europe was usually not worthwhile. Today there are breeds that produce recommended apricot varieties and are described in more detail below.

In a nutshell

  • many apricot varieties with lower susceptibility to disease and sensitivity to cold
  • Cultivation possible in Central European climate
  • warm, sunny and well-ventilated location is fundamentally important

Recommended varieties: Top 4

The top 4 among the recommended apricot varieties impress with their high resistance to diseases on apricot trees, low susceptibility to frost and, in addition, lush harvest yields.

Compacta (Prunus armeniaca 'Compacta')

  • growth: compact; weak-growing; up to two meters high
  • fruits: orange; medium-sized; medium soft; very juicy and aromatic; easily loosened stones
  • Harvest time: mid/late July to August
  • Location: sun to semi-shade
  • Particularities: Monilinia resistance; hardy to minus 25 degrees Celsius; self-fertile

Harlayne (Prunus armeniaca 'Harlayne')

  • Growth: upright; broad crowned; between two and three meters in height
  • fruits: orange-yellow; small to medium sized; fixed; sweet aroma
  • Harvest time: mid-late late July to late August
  • Location: Sun - sheltered from the wind in late frost
  • Special features: robust; undemanding; bountiful harvest; hardy; self-fertile apricot variety

Kyoto (Prunus armeniaca 'Kioto')

  • Growth: upright; weak; between three and four meters in height
  • Fruits: initially golden yellow, later orange-red; medium-sized; around; fixed; sweet aroma with a slightly sour note
  • Harvest time: mid-July to early August
  • Location: sun to semi-shade
  • Special features: low frost losses due to late flowering; more apricot trees boost crop yields; should be thinned regularly; very hardy

Kuresia (Prunus armeniaca "Kuresia")

  • growth: strong; powerful; broad crown; between three and four meters in height
  • fruits: medium-sized; orange-yellow to red; oval; firm pulp; Taste sweet and sour
  • Harvest time: late July to mid-August
  • Location: sun to semi-shade
  • Special features: very robust and hardy, therefore also suitable for colder regions; only apricot variety with Sharka resistance

tip: You can't go wrong with the top 4 apricot varieties mentioned. They are the best choice when you want to be on the safe side, although other strains are also recommended.

Other recommended varieties from A to G

Ragweed (Prunus armeniaca 'Ambrosia')

  • growth: strong; semi-erect to spreading; well branched; at the age of up to seven meters growth height
  • fruits: large; orange; smooth-skinned; readily stone soluble; very juicy pulp; taste sweet, low acidity; intense aroma
  • Harvest time: early to mid-July
  • Location: sun to semi-shade
  • Special features: higher crop yields due to pollination of other varieties; frost-sensitive sprouting

Bergeron (Prunus armeniaca 'Bergeron')

  • Growth: medium strong; upright; Growth height between four and five meters
  • fruits: large; roundish oval; greenish yellow to orange yellow; juicy; medium firm with a soft skin; sweet taste
  • Harvest time: early to late August
  • Location: sun to semi-shade; in a sheltered southern or western location
  • Special features: self-fertile
Source: Isabelle Lampe, Apricot Blossom0003, edited from Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 3.0

Golden Sun (Prunus armeniaca 'Golden Sun')

  • Growth: columnar; upright; Growth height between 200 and 250 centimeters
  • fruits: large; up to 60 grams heavy; juicy; bright orange; taste very sweet
  • Harvest time: July
  • Location: sun to semi-shade
  • Special features: self-fertile; robust; columnar plant; tolerates pruning well; hardy; year-round planting season

Gold Rich (Prunus armeniaca 'Gold Rich')

  • Growth: upright; weak; Growth height between 200 and 400 centimeters
  • fruits: medium-sized; juicy; yellow-orange-red; sweet taste
  • Harvest time: late; August to September
  • Location: Full sun to semi-shade
  • Special features: self-pollinating; resistant to diseases and frost; easy-care; medium crop yields

H to L

The first ripe fruits can be harvested in summer. This means that the fruit is picked one at a time and the whole tree is never harvested at the same time.

Hargrand (Prunus armeniaca 'Hargrand')

  • Growth: vigorous; broad crown; compact; Growth height between 300 and 400 centimeters
  • Fruits: up to eight centimeters in size; orange-yellow; fixed; light stone solution; Taste very sweet and sour
  • Harvest time: late July to early August
  • Location: sun
  • Special features: low susceptibility to diseases and less sensitive to late frosts; self pollinating; standard apricot variety in commercial cultivation; high crop yield

Notice: Those apricot varieties that do not require cross-pollination by other specimens for fruiting are referred to as self-fertile. However, sometimes self-pollinators show low yields, which can be increased by neighboring cross-pollinators.

Harogem (Prunus armeniaca 'Harogem')

  • growth: strong; upright; Growth height between 300 and 400 centimeters
  • fruits: very large; golden yellow with orange-red sunny side; firm but very juicy pulp; very cute
  • Harvest time: late July to early August
  • Location: sun
  • Special features: needs sheltered location; hardy; insect friendly; Blossom endangered by late frost

Hilde (Prunus armeniaca 'Hilde')

  • Growth: medium strong; thin shoots; spherical, broad crown; overhanging growth; compact; Growth height between 300 and 400 centimeters
  • fruits: large to very large; few felty hairs; medium-firm, juicy flesh; subtly sweet
  • Harvest time: mid-July to mid-August
  • Location: sun to semi-shade
  • Special features: self-fertile; hardy; insensitivity to sharka; moderately susceptible to Monilla; low risk of space

Iziagat (Prunus armeniaca "Iziagat")

  • Growth: semi-upright; medium to strong growth; Growth height up to 350 centimeters
  • fruits: medium-sized; almost full crimson body color; medium firm; sweet aromatic
  • Harvest time: mid to late July
  • Location: sun to semi-shade
  • Special features: new apricot variety from France; frost resistant; insect friendly; self-fertile; bursting; high crop yields

Luizet (Prunus armeniaca "Luizet")

  • Growth: vigorous; broad crown; compact; Growth height up to ten meters
  • fruits: medium-sized; around; juicy; golden yellow; taste sweet
  • Harvest time: late July to mid-August
  • Location: full sun; sunny
  • Special features: low maintenance requirements; hardy to at least minus 15 degrees Celsius; moderately high crop yields; ideal for harsh growing areas
Source: Victor M. Vicente Selvas, Prunus armeniaca close up flowers, edited from Plantopedia, CC0 1.0

M to Z

Mombacher (Prunus armeniaca 'Mombacher')

  • Growth: broad, bushy; loose structure; Growth height between 300 and 450 centimeters
  • fruits: smaller; yellow with red dots on sunny side; juicy, tender, medium-firm flesh; Taste sweet, aromatic
  • Harvest time: July to August
  • Location: sun to semi-shade
  • Special features: high-yield; self-fertile; robust and old apricot variety; lime loving

Nancy (Prunus armeniaca 'Nancy')

  • Growth: upright; treelike; loose crown; Growth height between 300 and 500 centimeters
  • fruits: medium-sized; yellow; juicy; around; sweet, aromatic taste
  • Harvest time: late July to early August
  • location: sun; sheltered from the wind
  • Special features: good frost hardiness; very productive; undemanding; cold-sensitive flowers

Orangered (Prunus armeniaca 'Orangered')

  • growth: bushy; medium to strong; well branched; Growth height up to 350 centimeters
  • fruits: large; orange with dark red sunny side; firm pulp; very tastefull; subtle sweetness
  • Harvest time: mid to late July; with optimal weather conditions already from the beginning of July
  • Location: sun to semi-shade
  • Special features: low yields with self-pollination, therefore additional pollinating plants are recommended; hardy; known for excellent food quality; is also called giant apricot
Source: INRA DIST from France, Abricots Orangered Cl J Weber (23592939731), edited by Plantopedia, CC BY 2.0

Temporao de Villa Franca (Prunus armeniaca "Temporao de Villa Franca")

  • growth: strong; upright; Growth height up to 450 centimeters
  • fruits: medium-sized; bright orange-yellow; fixed; juicy; sweet and sour aroma
  • Harvest time: mid to late July
  • Location: sun to semi-shade
  • Special features: self-fertile; should always be sheltered, although hardy

Hungarian Best (Prunus armeniaca "Hungarian Best")

  • growth: strong; powerful; between three and five meters in height
  • Fruits: medium-sized, orange-yellow with red speckles; juicy, firm flesh; Taste sweet and sour
  • Harvest time: mid-July to early August
  • Location: sun to semi-shade
  • Special features: well-tried and popular variety; blossom endangered by late frost; otherwise hardy

'Little Lena' dwarf apricot (Prunus armeniaca 'Little Lena')

  • Growth: upright, compact, dwarf; Growth height up to 150 centimeters
  • fruits: yellow-orange; plump; fixed; sweet and sour
  • Harvest time: August to September
  • Location: sun
  • Special features: ideal for keeping buckets; self-fertile; distinctive Mediterranean flair; good hardy; frost-free hibernation recommended when kept in tubs

Dwarf apricot "Rosina" (Prunus armeniaca "Rosina")

  • growth: weak; dwarf form; Growth height between 100 and 120 centimeters
  • fruits: yellow-orange-red; medium-sized; spicy aromatic
  • Harvest time: August to September
  • Location: sun to semi-shade
  • Special features: ideal for keeping buckets; good hardy; frost-free hibernation recommended when kept in tubs; rare and protected variety

Varieties not recommended

Among the non-recommended apricot varieties are those that have a high susceptibility to fungal diseases and pests. A relatively high sensitivity to frost also ensures low or no crop yields and, in the worst case, can result in a very short lifespan for the apricot trees. For the reasons mentioned and because there are enough recommended varieties, it is not advisable to grow these varieties yourself. The following are some examples of non-recommended apricot trees:

  • Delice cot.: high susceptibility to splitting; high risk of monilinia
  • Mino: very susceptible to all types of fungi
  • Wonder cot.: very susceptible to monilinia and rain spots
apricot disease 'Monilinia'; Source: Holger Krisp, Monilinia fruit rot, edited from Plantopedia, CC BY 3.0

frequently asked Questions

What are the differences between apricots and apricots?

There are no differences. Apricots are called apricots in Austria. The term also occasionally occurs in Germany. But it is the same type of fruit.

What does the Mirabelle apricot "Aprimira" belong to?

This variety is not directly related to Mirabelle plums or apricots. They all belong to the stone fruit family. The "Aprimira" was bred in 1994, although nothing more can be learned about it. Because it is visually similar to both types, it is called Mirabelle apricot, but actually falls under the category of plums.

Which are "cross-pollinators" are advantageous for recommendable varieties?

Those apricot varieties that have positive properties should be chosen as cross-pollinators. This mainly concerns the susceptibility to diseases and Monilla. But the taste also plays an important role: if you want to harvest purely sweet fruit, the pollinating plant should be able to produce sweet fruit itself. It is important that both varieties complement each other perfectly.

Category:

Garden plants