Appearance

Growth form

A deciduous tree about 20–40 ft (6–12 m) tall with a rounded crown.

Flowers

White or pinkish blossoms appear in early spring, before the leaves come out.

Fruit

The yellow-to-orange fruit has one hard pit. In California, the market season usually runs from mid-May to early July.

Look-alikes

Japanese apricotPrunus mume

In the southeastern U.S., Japanese apricot often blooms in winter, while common apricot blooms in early spring. For a closer look, the small leaflike parts at the base of an apricot flower bend backward.

Why they get mixed up · Both have pale blossoms on bare branches and apricot in their English names.

Where it lives

Typical habitats

• orchards
• home gardens
• yards

Range

An Asian tree grown in U.S. orchards and home gardens. California is the leading commercial growing region.

Preferred conditions

Grow in full sun with well-drained soil and winter chill. It grows in plant hardiness zones 5–7; early bloom makes spring frost a concern.

Seasons

In California

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Fruit

Fruit May–Jul

Growing it

Care

Because it blooms so early, spring frosts are the biggest risk—a late freeze can wipe out the year's flowers and fruit.

Toxicity

The kernels inside the pits contain amygdalin, which the body can turn into cyanide. Bitter kernels have much more than sweet ones, and eating them in quantity can cause poisoning.

Connected species

Caterpillar food plants

• Eastern Tiger SwallowtailPapilio glaucus

  Apricot is listed as a host plant for its caterpillars in the eastern United States.

Pollinators

• honey beesApis

  Honey bees are widely used in U.S. orchards to move pollen, including in apricot crops.

Conservation

IUCN Red List

DDData Deficient·Not enough data yet to assess

Status

Regional assessments in China and three Central Asian countries list it as Endangered (EN).