Prunus armeniaca Harcot (Apricot)

Cold-hardy, Prunus armeniaca ‘Harcot’ is a small to medium-sized apricot tree adorned with profuse clusters of fragrant, pink flowers in spring. They are followed by medium-sized, freestone, orange fruits with a red blush in mid-summer. Their orange flesh is juicy and sweet with a rich flavor. They are perfect for eating, baking, canning, or drying.

Cold-hardy, Prunus armeniaca 'Harcot' is a small to medium-sized apricot tree adorned with profuse clusters of fragrant, pink flowers in spring. They are followed by medium-sized, freestone, orange fruits with a red blush in mid-summer. Their orange flesh is juicy and sweet with a rich flavor. They are perfect for eating, baking, canning, or drying. Self-pollinating, this apricot tree forms a rounded crown with upwardly-reaching branches clothed in ovate, finely serrated, dark green leaves with a pointed tip. Recommended for colder areas with their frost-hardy late bloom. Resists brown rot and perennial canker.

  • Typically grows up to 15-25 ft. tall and wide (450-750 cm). Plant at least 8-10 ft. (240-300 cm) away from patios, water pipes, and sewer pipes.
  • Performs best in full sun in deep, fertile, moist, well-drained soils.
  • Apricot trees are fairly precocious and begin fruiting in their second year, but substantial harvest does not begin until 3-5 years.
  • This apricot tree has a chill hours requirement of 700 (hours of temperatures below 45ºF (7ºC) in the winter for their buds to open in the spring).
  • This variety is self-pollinating. You may still want to plant pollinating partners to increase the size of your crops.
  • Frost-sensitive, Apricot trees are perfect for Mediterranean climates.
  • Apricot trees require regular pruning to remain strong, and healthy and produce bountiful harvests.
  • Keep an eye out for aphids, squirrels, borers, Japanese beetle, leaf roller, mites, bacterial canker, bacterial leaf spot, brown rot, Oriental fruit moth, and powdery mildew.
  • Apricots are propagated by cuttings, grafting onto rootstocks for fruit, or can be propagated by seed, although the fruit from the seedlings is likely to be inferior in flavor to the parent.
  • Toxic to dogs, toxic to cats, toxic to horses.

Requirements

Hardiness 5
– 8

Heat Zones 2
– 8

Plant Type Fruit, Trees
Plant Family Prunus – Fruit Trees, Apricots
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Mid)Summer (Mid)
Height 15'
– 25'
(4.5m
– 7.5m)
Spread 15'
– 25'
(4.5m
– 7.5m)
Water Needs Average
Maintenance High
Soil Type Chalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy, Fruit & Berries
Attracts Birds