What soil does Apricot grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, sandy, calcareous.

Hardy down to -29 °C (USDA zone 4, RHS H7). It gets through winter in every part of the country.

How far from the house should Apricot be planted?

Plant it at least 4 m from buildings. Keep it at least 2.5 m from paving.

When does Apricot flower?

Flowering: March–April, white, pink.

How much water does Apricot need?

Water need: medium. Drought tolerance: medium.

How much does Apricot cost?

It sells for roughly €34 to €220 in local shops, depending on size.

Apricot

Prunus armeniaca

Apricot (Prunus armeniaca) is a fruit plant. Light: full sun. Hardy down to -29 °C. Drought tolerance: medium. Toxic to dogs and cats. Sold in local shops from about €34.

Illustration of Apricot — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

A fruit tree that covers itself in white to pink blossom in early spring before the leaves, then gives fragrant fruit from early to midsummer that is equally good fresh and for jam. Most widely grown cultivars are self-fertile, so a single tree crops, but a few giant-fruited and some newer cultivars need a partner, so check when buying. It is sold grafted and its size depends on the rootstock (from 3 to 4 m up to more than 6 m); plant it in a warm, sunny, sheltered spot in loose, well-drained soil, never in a frost pocket, and expect that because of the early flowering it will not crop every year.

Watch out for

In Central Europe the crop is most often lost to spring frost: the tree flowers early, blossom and fruitlets are damaged at just 1 to 2 °C below zero, and hard frost returning after mild winter days also harms buds and shoots. The other major problem is apoplexy, when a branch or the whole tree dies suddenly in midsummer; it results from several pathogens combined with stress (frost, winter pruning, wounds, waterlogging) and cannot be cured with sprays. So never prune an apricot in winter: do it at the red-bud stage or after harvest in late summer, in dry weather, and seal the cuts. In cool, wet weather at flowering Monilia blossom blight kills flowers and shoots, so spray at the start and end of flowering and cut diseased shoots back to healthy wood. Gummosis, shot hole, leaf spot, plum pox virus (marked fruit and stones), peach twig borer and oriental fruit moth are also common. Overall a demanding tree: it needs regular preventive spraying and careful summer pruning, and can still be shorter-lived than other fruit trees.

Key facts

Light: Full sun
Water need: Medium
Care: High
Size after 10 years: 4 m × 4 m
Hardiness: down to -29 °C
Foliage: Deciduous
Flowering: J F M A M J J A S O N D March–April, white, pink

Group	Fruit
Light	Full sun
Size after 10 years	4 m × 4 m
Ultimate size	3–8 m × 3–6 m
Hardiness	down to -29 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Sandy, Calcareous
Foliage	Deciduous
Flowering	March–April, white, pink
Harvest	June–August
Self-fertile	yes
Water need	Medium
Drought tolerance	Medium
Maintenance	High
Root aggressiveness	Medium
Suckering	no
Spreading	Low
Distance from buildings	at least 4 m
Distance from paving	at least 2.5 m
Litter	Fruit
Planting distance	500 cm
For dogs	Toxic
For cats	Toxic
For children	Mildly toxic (uncertain)
Typical price	from about €34

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Sizes and prices available

The same plant is sold as a small pot and as a specimen several metres tall, and the price follows. Prices are rounded and for guidance only.

Size	Typical price
size not stated	approx. €34 – €220

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 8, 2026 · How our data is made

Appears in these lists

Fruit trees and bushes Plants for a Mediterranean garden Fragrant plants Plants with edible fruit

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Apricot vs Peach Apricot vs Sour cherry Apricot vs Sweet cherry

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