Apricot Varieties
- APRICOT VARIETY DESCRIPTIONS, Spring 2018
Afghanistan (Summerland E–43-12): Tree self-fruitful; flower buds not hardy below -20F. Fruit is “medium sized, white-fleshed apricot with whitish skin and a red cheek. It seems to be regarded by all who have tasted it, including the scientists who have specialized in apricots at the Summerland, BC research station, as one of the sweetest, most luscious, and best flavored. The flesh is too tender for commercial use. It was one of several seedlings brought into the U.S.A. from Teheran, Iran in 1957 by Dr. Karl.O. Lapins, head plant breeder at Summerland.” Fruit productivity only fair in SW Idaho.
Alfred: (o.p. seedling of Doty x Geneva, Geneva NY, intro. 1965) Small but delicious, juicy, roundish, orange-yellow apricot. Very productive, self-fruitful, hardy to at least -30F, the most consistent bearer in Lakeside, Michigan but also productive in Mississippi, Texas, Utah, Idaho, and Wisconsin, ripens midseason to late, consistently later blooming relative to other apricots.
Alice Sharp White: Chance seedling discovered in Illinois, where it does well. Later blooming, self fruitful, small to medium sized, very pale yellow, sweet fruits. Upright to spreading growth habit, hardy to at least -34F in SW Minnesota.
Apache: new USDA apricot released from Parlier CA breeding program, not self-fruitful, very early ripening, aromatic, high quality, tree hardy to –29F in Minnesota, injured at -33F, grown commercially in SE Minnesota. Ripens one week before Jerseycot. Fruit has a pleasantly sweet flavor, tends to drop once it is ripe but resists bruising. Tree form is upright to spreading.
Castlebrite: CA apricot, tree has an upright-to-spreading growth habit. Ripens early, but needs to be picked fully ripe to have tolerable acid levels. Firm flesh, strong flavor, should be good for canning.
Corbett: found in central CO, tree has upright growth habit, very productive. A “white” apricot with blush on skin. Thicker skin, more resistant to bruising than Sugar Pearls, believed to be self-fruitful, should be hardy in Zone 4.
Brookcot: (Manchurian apricot seedling, tested as BF #7-3) From Strathmore, Alberta, Brookcot is a consistently late-blooming, self-fruitful tree hardy to –48F or below. Fruit size is 1.1 to 1.6 inches, flavor almost as good as M.604 or Debbie’s Gold. Tree growth habit is upright. Brookcot has been consistently productive in SW Idaho.
Debbie’s Gold: (P. armeniaca sibirica sdlg., introduced by Aubin Nurseries, Carman MB, circa 1980). From the Prairie Provinces, a vigorous grower, flower buds winter-hardy to at least –41F. Fruit size 1-3/4” in 2007, good for fresh eating and canning, with no tartness or astringency. Blooms earlier than Brookcot but a day or two after M.604 and Westcot. Tree growth habit is vigorous, upright to spreading. Self-fruitful.
DR-606: Medium sized apricot from British Columbia. Blooms late, ripens very late (mid August in central WA, or about a week after Harlayne). Tree habit upright to spreading, low to moderate vigor, moderate productivity, proven winter hardy to at least minus 34F in SW Minnesota. Fruit is orange, very firm and sweet; fruit eats well on ice cream. Self-fruitful.
Florilege: From France. Tree has upright to spreading, very open growth habit, not many branches. Fruits are large, ripen mid-season, orange with red blush, firm, very good flavor. Has performed very well in Baltimore, MD in wet conditions.
Goldbar. (Goldrich x Blenril, cross made by Tom Toyama, WA State University, introduced 1989) Early season apricot, color dull red over yellow-orange, firm, large, good flavor, grown commercially in SW Idaho. Tree is self-fruitful.
Golden Giant: Introduced 1948 by Inter-State Nurseries in IA, sdlg. of Moorpark. Tree is self-fruitful, precocious, bears annually, somewhat spreading growth habit, hardy to at least –30F, well adapted to Nebraska and Iowa conditions. Fruit is large (over 2”), oblong, compressed; skin yellow, medium thick; flesh firm, melting, freestone, mild, sweet, and moderately juicy; cans well. Harcot. Introduced 1977 at Harrow, Ontario, by R.E.C. Layne, Agriculture Canada. Tree: large, upright to spreading, vigorous, hardy to -25F. Fruit size over 2”, early ripening, orange with red blush; flesh orange, very sweet, fine textured, juicy, freestone. Fruit sometimes splits on the distal end when ripe. Sweet kernel. Grown commercially in SW Michigan and Ontario. Self-fruitful.
Hardy Iowa (a.k.a. Iowa): Chance seedling discovered 1948. Tree: very hardy, prolific annual bearer, blooms later than most varieties, reliable in Iowa. Fruit: small to medium sized, very sweet; skin light yellow, thin; ripens in late midseason.
Harglow: Introduced 1982 at Harrow, Ontario, by R.E.C. Layne, Agriculture Canada. Fruit: ripens late, orange skin, blushed; medium sized fruit, freestone, firm, good for fresh eating, drying, and canning. Tree is hardy, productive, later blooming, with good resistance to bacterial spot, brown rot, skin cracking and perennial canker. Tree has compact, somewhat spreading growth habit.
Hargrand: Introduced 1980 at Harrow, Ontario, by R.E.C. Layne, Agriculture Canada. . Fruit diameter is 2.1 to 2.5 inches, oblate to round, skin dull orange, flesh very firm, orange, fine textured with outstanding flavor. Tree size is medium, open-spreading, medium vigor and productivity, tolerant to perennial canker, brown rot, bacterial spot, and skin cracking. Ripens late July in Minnesota, before Harlayne. Grown commercially in western NY and MI. Self fruitful.
Harlayne: Orig. in Harrow, Ontario, R.E.C. Layne, released in 1980 by Agriculture Canada. Ttree is late blooming, cold hardy to –34F, spreading, productive, and tolerant to brown rot, bacterial spot, and perennial canker. Consistently productive, but needs another variety (Harogem or Hargrand) for cross-pollination. Fruit is orange with red blush, very firm, good texture, freestone, ripens early August in WA and MN. Recommended for fresh market and canning in Ontario province.
Harogem : Orig. in Harrow, Ontario, R.E.C. Layne, released in 1979, tree is medium vigor, spreading, consistently productive, self-fruitful, proven to be a good pollenizer of Harlayne in MN and western NY, hardy to -34F. Fruit is medium sized, glossy red blush on bright orange background, very firm, moderately juicy, smooth texture, good flavor, freestone, ripening a few days before Hargrand and Harglow. Fruit keeps very well in the refrigerator.
Harval: Introduced in Harrow, Ontario 1989 by Agriculture Canada. Fruit is medium to large, orange with 30% red blush, flesh very firm, good quality. Tree is self-fruitful, resistant to many diseases but susceptible to brown rot. Fruit ripens 5 days after Harlayne. Harval has performed well in central Texas. Recommended for fresh market and processing.
Helena: USDA-ARS introduction from CA, introduced in early 1990s. Tree is self-fruitful, extremely productive, upright to spreading growth habit, ripens with Sugar Pearls. Fruit is blocky, firm, yellowish-orange skin and flesh, size about 1.8”, very good flavor, well accepted by my ID customers. Helena blossoms open later and have high resistance to late spring frosts, based on experience in CA and SW Idaho. Its tolerance to extreme cold is unknown.
Henderson: Orig. in Geneva, NY, by George W. Henderson, introduced 1935, parentage unknown. It has performed well in Illinois, Massachusetts, and Minnesota. Tree is vigorous, hardy (at least to -34F in MN), productive, self-fruitful. Flesh is sweet, slightly fibrous, and semi-clingstone, fruits to 1-1/2 inches under good conditions. Later blooming, spreading growth habit.
Ilona: Introduced 2015 by Rutgers University. Large fruit, outstanding flavor. Tree is vigorous, upright to spreading, moderately productive, but only average in frost tolerance. Good crop after exposure to -20F in January 2017.
Jerseycot: Orig. in Cream Ridge, NJ, introd. 1986. Has cropped 20 of 22 years in central New Jersey and is highly resistant to mid-winter thaws, spring frosts and diseases. Growth habit is somewhat spreading, vigor low to moderate. Very productive and self fruitful, needs to be thinned to ensure return bloom and decent fruit size. Fruit size is about 1-1/2 to 1-3/4 inches, orange-yellow, ripening early in the apricot season. Fruit is sweet, soft, with a cantaloupe-like aroma and tends to drop when fully ripe.
Jimmy Thomas: Chance seedling discovered on the Thomas farmstead a mile from our home. Has never missed a crop in 38 years. Fruits are medium sized, pleasant sweet flavor eaten fresh, outstanding dried, too soft to can. Tree is self-fruitful, has a spreading growth habit and is extremely productive.
Lorna: USDA-ARS introduction from Parlier, CA. Spreading growth habit, self fruitful, large, deep-orange fruits with a robust apricot flavor, but may crack from rain just before harvest. Keeps well in storage.
Montrose (Hoyt seedling): Discovered in northern Idaho as a seedling of the original Montrose. Hardy to –31F, self fertile, very vigorous, precocious, producing sweet, medium sized (1-1/2 to 2”), juicy fruits. Yellow skin, red blush, kernels are bitter. Tree requires lots of heat units and high chilling units to break dormancy, prolonged bloom period in maritime climates, fruit ripens in early August. Has performed well in Puget Sound area of WA, western PA, western NY State as well as Colorado and northern Idaho.
Morden 604 (M.604): Scout x McClure, introduced 1946 by Ag. Canada at Morden, MB. Tree is upright to spreading, self-fruitful, vigor moderate, fruit size large (1-3/4”) as grown in Manitoba, flavor sweet, pleasing. Flower buds hardy to –40F or colder.
Nicole: USDA apricot released 2003 from Fresno, CA breeding program, cross of Orange Red x K139-70. Tree: upright to spreading, not self-fruitful, ripens early, cross-pollenizes with Apache, developed for industrial processing. Fruit is small to medium sized, bright orange and freestone, flesh is juicy with a dense consistency and deep orange in color, with a strong apricot aroma.
Orangered (NJ 32) Early maturing apricot from the Rutgers breeding program, a fluorescent red blush over a dark orange background, flesh orange, juicy, and sweet. Orangered requires cross-pollination from another apricot. Tree vigorous, upright to spreading. Orangered is grown commercially in France and has been extensively used in apricot breeding at Rutgers.
Precious: An almond-apricot cross, coming from a 100-year-old tree in southern Ontario province. Sweet kernels. Tree is self-fruitful, hardy into the –40s F., spreading growth habit. Fruit is small to medium sized, thick skin, sweet flesh. Resistant to late spring frosts and bears well in Quebec, eastern England, and SW Idaho. Does best in humid or subhumid climates.
Puget Gold: Found 1978 near Anacortes, WA, tree is low to moderate vigor, spreading, a prolific and consistent cropper even in cool, wet springs. Self-fruitful, tolerant to brown rot and Coryneum blight. Fruit is medium sized (under 2”), roundish ovate, skin light red to red-orange blush on clear yellow background, flesh deep orange-yellow, firm, sweet, freestone, excellent for all purposes. Ripens with Harglow (about July 30 in central WA). Available from a few nurseries in the Pacific NW. Has set a crop after wintertime lows of –23F in Nebraska.
Robada: introduced by USDA-ARS breeding program in the mid 1990s, now grown commercially in WA State and CA. Partially self-fruitful but needs a different variety (e.g., Castlebrite, Helena) nearby to set large crops. Growth habit is somewhat spreading, midseason bloom, ripens after Apache and Jerseycot. Fruits average 1.9” diameter, orange skin heavily blushed with red. Flesh is juicy, firm, resistant to bruising, with a complex sweet flavor. Fruit keeps well in the refrigerator. Probably winter-hardy in Zone 4b, good bloom after exposure to -20F. Even people who dislike apricots love it. It has performed well in SW Idaho.
Rushmore: local apricot cultivar from Rushmore, in SW Minnesota, originally from Hungary. Blooms late, self-fruitful, fruit ripe in late July, medium sized to large, very good flavor. Not reliably winter-hardy in Zone 4a.
Skaha: Introd. 1973 at Summerland, BC; open-pollinated sdlg. of Perfection. Tree is large, wide, spreading, vigorous; performs well in southeast NY State and is as hardy as Wenatchee Moorpark. Fruit ripens about 9 days after Jerseycot and is large, round, dull orange yellow with slight blush; flesh is moderately firm, flavor sweet and rich as grown in SE New York State and Idaho.
Sugar Pearls: Released from NJ apricot breeding program about 2005. Tree resists fluctuating midwinter temperatures and most diseases, growth habit is very spreading and irregular, vigor moderate, requires cross-pollination from another later-blooming apricot (e.g., Harlayne, Hargrand, Jerseycot, maybe Helena). Fruits average about 1-3/4” diameter, pale yellow with orange blush, flesh is very sweet, low acid, excellent both fresh and dried.
Sundrop: Has performed well in New York and Wisconsin and is good for fresh eating. Open-pollinated seedling of ‘Perfection’, tree is vigorous, moderately hardy, and very productive. Fruit size is medium, round, skin bright orange, flesh firm, for fresh market sales. Ripens early, several days after Jerseycot, and has high market acceptance in Idaho.
Suphany: A white apricot (name means “God’s gift”) from Uzbekistan, late blooming, fruit small to medium size, dull yellow, sweet, self-fertile, ripens mid-season. Evidence suggests it is hardy in sheltered areas of Zone 4a. Tree growth habit is somewhat spreading. Suphany has performed fairly well in Baltimore, MD although less disease resistant than Afghanistan or Zard. Needs lots of chilling hours to bloom.
Tomcot: Orig. in Prosser, WA, by Tom Toyama, introd. 1989. Early-ripening apricot, fruit size medium to large, above average tolerance to spring frosts with a prolonged bloom period, has performed well on the East Coast as well as in MT, WA, and ID. Partially self-fruitful, somewhat disease resistant, growth habit upright to spreading, grown commercially in WA during 1990s.
Ultra-Orange: Seedling of Stark Earli-Orange, found on property of G. Shults, Homedale ID. Tree is spreading, self fruitful, productive, above average tolerance to spring frosts. Fruits are very large (2-1/4” diameter), bright orange, juicy, moderately firm, excellent for both eating and canning, ripening just after Tomcot but before Goldbar in ID. Hardiness in Zone 4 unknown. Heavy crop in 2017 after exposure to -20F in January.
Westcot: Popular in Manitoba, a Scout x McClure cross, introduced 1982 by Agriculture Canada at Morden, MB; self fertile, hardy to -48F near Bemidji, MN, blooms just before Debbie’s Gold, sweet (18 degrees Brix) flesh, yellow-orange skin, good for fresh eating and firm enough to can. Tree vigor moderate, growth habit irregular but can be trained with spreaders. Average production on two 9-year-old trees of Westcot in SW Minnesota was 200 lb/tree in 2010; fruit ripens mid July in SW Minnesota.
Zard Old apricot variety from Iran, name means ‘yellow’ in Farsi. Very late blooming, self fertile, fruit medium sized, pale yellow, sweet, large pit with sweet kernel, ripens mid-late season, productive in SW Idaho. Tree requires high chilling hours and considerable heat before it breaks dormancy. Has withstood –33F in SW Minnesota and borne a full crop. Growth habit is very upright. Has been well received by customers at the farmers’ markets I take it to.
Abbreviations: o.p. = open pollinated. Sdlg. = Seedling. X = crossed with.
A comprehensive review of information about apricot growing is found in my widely cited report presented at the North American Fruit Explorers conference in 2006. It is titled "APRICOTS – A Wider Geographical Possibility" and can be downloaded as a Word file here.