Puget Gold Apricot is a game-changing variety bred by Washington State University to thrive in the cool, wet springs and short summers of the Pacific Northwest, where other apricots routinely fail. This medium-to-large tree produces elongated fruits with tangerine-orange skin and sunny orange flesh packed with intense, buttery-sweet flavor. Hardy in zones 5-9 and reaching 15-20 feet tall at maturity, it bears heavily at 2-5 years, producing 50 pounds or more of exceptional fruit annually. Unlike supermarket apricots, these are delectable and full-flavored straight off the tree.
240
Full Sun
Moderate
5-9
240in H x 240in W
—
High
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Puget Gold shatters the myth that apricots can't grow in cool maritime climates. WSU's decades of breeding work created a variety that sets and sizes fruit in the exact weather conditions that defeat every other apricot cultivar. The naturally compact growth habit means you can easily maintain the tree at 15 feet without constant pruning, and its pest and disease resistance means fewer sprays and healthier fruit.
Puget Gold is primarily grown for fresh eating, where its buttery-sweet flavor and tender texture shine brightest. Gardeners prize it for harvesting ripe fruit straight from the tree in early August, a treat impossible in most cool-climate regions. The abundance of fruit at maturity also makes it well-suited to preserving; the excellent flavor concentration makes it exceptional for jams, compotes, and dried apricots.
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Bare-root apricot trees are best planted in early spring while still dormant, or in fall where winters are mild. Choose a site with excellent drainage and full sun exposure. Space trees 240 inches (20 feet) apart to accommodate the mature spread. Plant in early spring before bud break, ensuring the graft union (if grafted) sits just above the soil line. Water thoroughly after planting to settle soil around the roots.
Harvest in early August when fruits reach full size and develop a deep tangerine-orange color on the skin. The fruit should yield slightly to gentle pressure but still feel firm; apricots do not continue to ripen significantly after picking. Gently twist and lift ripe fruit from the branch, or carefully cut with pruning shears if the stem resists. Plan to harvest over several weeks as ripening occurs in succession across the tree. Expect the tree to produce 50 pounds or more at full maturity.
Prune lightly in early spring before bud break to maintain an open canopy and remove any winter damage or crossing branches. Puget Gold's naturally petite growth habit means you can easily maintain the tree at 15 feet without excessive cutting. Focus on thinning crowded interior growth rather than heavy heading cuts, which can reduce fruit production. Remove any branches that rub or cross, and thin lateral shoots to improve air circulation and sunlight penetration into the canopy.
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“Puget Gold was officially named and introduced by Washington State University's breeding program, a deliberate answer to a regional growing challenge. For generations, apricot lovers in the Pacific Northwest watched their trees bloom hopefully each spring, only to see fruit shrivel and fail as cool, wet weather rolled in. WSU's horticulturists set out to crack the code by selecting and developing a variety capable of thriving in those unforgiving conditions. The result was Puget Gold, a cultivar that represents years of careful selection and testing in actual Northwest growing conditions. This variety embodies institutional commitment to solving real problems for regional gardeners.”