Stone Fruit
The Chinese Mormon Apricot is a remarkably hardy stone fruit that thrives where many apricots fail, it's bred for difficult climates and blooms late enough to dodge spring frosts that devastate other varieties. This early-bearing, heavy-producing tree reaches 15-20 feet tall and wide, producing medium-sized orange fruits with tender, yellow-gold flesh packed with flavor. Hardy in zones 4-7 and reaching fruit production in 2-4 years, it's ideal for northern gardeners and high-elevation regions seeking reliable apricot crops.
15-20 feet apart
Full Sun
Moderate
4-7
240in H x 240in W
Perennial
Moderate
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What makes this variety exceptional is its combination of cold-hardiness and speed to production, trees begin yielding fruit far earlier than standard apricots, and the late bloom timing means spring frosts are far less likely to wipe out your harvest. The fruit itself is superb quality and freestone, splitting cleanly from the pit with minimal fuss, which makes it a canner's dream and perfect for drying. This tree was specifically developed to succeed where apricots have no business thriving, yet it produces heavily and ripens early in the season.
The freestone nature of these apricots makes them exceptionally versatile in the kitchen, they're ideal for canning whole or in preserves, drying for snacking or baking, and using fresh in pies, jams, and compotes. The tender flesh and excellent flavor mean the fruit is equally pleasant eaten fresh off the tree or processed for storage.
Bare-root trees should be planted in early spring before bud break, while containerized trees can go in the ground any time during the growing season in your hardiness zone (4-7). Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and just as deep, backfill with native soil, and water thoroughly. If planting in spring, allow the tree to settle for a few weeks before heavy fertilizing.
Apricots are fully ripe when the skin shifts to a warm orange color and the fruit yields slightly to gentle pressure, they should still be slightly firm, not mushy. Since this is one of the earliest ripening apricot varieties, watch for fruit color to deepen from pale yellow-orange to rich orange, usually in mid to late summer depending on your climate. Pick fruit in the morning after any dew has dried, handling gently to avoid bruising. Ripe apricots will come away from the branch with just a slight twist.
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