Plant Library

Other Names:  Mormon Apricot, Chinese Mormon Apricot

Description:

A beautiful medium-sized fruit tree with showy white flowers in spring and orange fruit in mid summer, somewhat upright and spreading habit; needs full sun, and well-drained soil; this variety is recommended for areas prone to late spring frost

Edible Qualities

Chinese Apricot is a medium-sized tree that is commonly grown for its edible qualities. It produces yellow round fruit (technically 'drupes') with a orange blush and gold flesh which are usually ready for picking in late 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 firm texture.

The fruit are most often used in the following ways:

• Fresh Eating
• Cooking
• Baking
• Preserves
• Drying

Features & Attributes

Chinese Apricot is blanketed in stunning clusters of fragrant white flowers along the branches in early spring before the leaves. It has green deciduous foliage. The pointy leaves turn yellow in fall. The fruits are showy yellow drupes with a orange blush, which are carried in abundance in late summer. The fruit can be messy if allowed to drop on the lawn or walkways, and may require occasional clean-up.

This is a deciduous tree with a more or less rounded form. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition. This plant will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Messy
• Disease

Aside from its primary use as an edible, Chinese Apricot is sutiable for the following landscape applications;

• Shade
• Orchard/Edible Landscaping

Planting & Growing

Chinese Apricot will grow to be about 30 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 30 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 4 feet from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 50 years or more. This is a self-pollinating variety, so it doesn't require a second plant nearby to set fruit.

This tree is typically grown in a designated area of the yard because of its mature size and spread. It should only be grown in full sunlight. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.