Apricot Growing Zone | Know What Zone You’re In

Apricots are a delicious fruit that can be enjoyed fresh or dried. If you’re growing apricots in your garden, you’ll need to know about the apricot growing zone. This zone determines the temperature, sunlight, and rainfall best suited for apricot cultivation. By knowing your apricot growing zone, you can ensure that your fruit gets the optimum environment to grow and produce healthy fruit.

The delicate apricot thrives in almost every country today and USDA hardiness zones 4 through 9. Keep on reading!

Apricot Hardiness Zones

Zone 4

Between Zones 3 and 5, this is the region most commonly found in the middle of the United States. Plants in this zone can tolerate short-term exposure to cold temperatures; long-term cold exposure should be avoided.

Zone 5

Throughout Europe and North America, this is by far the most common zone to find yourself in. Long-term exposure to frigid temperatures will kill plants in this zone, so it is best to relocate them somewhere warmer.

Zone 6

This is the most common area in American gardens where plants are grown. Plants in this zone tolerate cold temperatures for short periods, but they should be relocated to areas with warmer climates if they are expected for longer periods.

Zone 7

These plants have fully adapted to the cold climate, but they may only be able to handle short or long periods of extreme cold for a short time.

Zone 8

These plants can withstand a short amount of wind in the winter, but they should be moved indoors if exposed for a long time.

Zone 9

Plants that have been damaged by wind and snow should not be re-planted in Zone 9. If a plant has a lot of damage from winter winds, it can withstand short periods of cold weather, but it should be moved indoors if exposed for a long time.

Zone 10

It’s only found in a few states near the equator. The plant can tolerate brief exposure to very cold temperatures.

Apricot Varieties

Autumn Glo

You’ll be rewarded with beautiful and fragrant pink blossoms from this particular tree in the spring. The Autumn Glo apricot is kid-friendly for more than just its resistance to picking by children. Also, its medium texture and nearly fuzz-free skin make this apricot variety a favorite among children.

Autumn Glo apricot trees are a great addition to your orchard because they ripen late August and early September. It’s the perfect time for a great fall harvest because the fruit blooms at once. This apricot variety is best suited to USDA Hardiness Zones 7 and 8. This tree can withstand temperatures as low as 28 degrees Fahrenheit without losing vigor.

Within two to three years of planting, this fruit tree typically produces fruit. You can expect to get 50+ pounds of fruit per season. The Autumn Glo dwarf apricot tree can reach a height of 10-12 feet, but some cultivars can reach 18 feet.

Autumn Royal

This variety has oval, medium-sized fruits with firm flesh that can be canned and dried and eaten. In the south, it works well because it doesn’t need as many chill hours and should be harvested later in the year than some other types. A lot of people can get their hands on this in September. It grows well in USDA zones 6 to 9.

Brittany Gold

Most apricot trees can grow in zones 5 through 8, but some can even grow well in zones 4 through 9! Do better in the warm parts of these ranges: The Brittany Gold will be a better choice for you.

If you live in Fresno, California, you know that it likes the hot summers and the cold winters there, so it is very well-known. An 8-zone is a place where you can plant. As best as you can, try to grow your Brittany Gold apricots in a zone from 7 to 9.

Canadian White Blenheim

Apricots from ‘Canadian White Blenheim,’ which have won awards in taste tests, are recommended for growing in Zones 4-7 and require 700 hours of chilling time. In late summer, the fruits of this cultivar are ready to be harvested.

Planting it near another late-blooming variety increases yields because it is partially self-pollinating.

The tree’s fruit is juicy and firm, with medium to large freestone fruits. As its name suggests, white, syrupy-sweet flesh is found inside the fruit’s golden orange skin.

Chinese Apricot

The ‘Chinese’ apricot, a self-pollinating variety with a 700-hour chill requirement, is a semi-dwarf variety hardy in Zones 4-7. This late-blooming apricot, also known as the ‘Mormon,’ yields a large crop in the middle of the summer.

Small to medium-sized fruits with a red blush on an orange skin. This apricot has a smooth, firm, juicy orange flesh with a mild, sweet flavor.

‘ Chinese’ apricots are the best for baking, fresh eating, canning, and drying. The pits of these fruits, which taste like sweet almonds, are a bonus.

Flavorella Plumcot

For the flavorella plumcot tree to thrive, it should be grown in a climate where the winters are mild but still bearable. They can be found in the Southeast and the entire West Coast of the United States. There is some viability in parts of zone 10 for them, but they’re generally hardy in zones five through nine.

The tree needs a lot of air circulation in the coldest areas. Low-lying areas in colder regions may have air trapped around them, resulting in an uncomfortably low temperature.

Garden Annie Dwarf

This is a dwarf variety that can be grown in a container and only grows 8-10 feet tall. It reproduces by itself. Semi-freestone fruits are firm and medium-sized on this tree. Aside from its edible qualities, its showy blossoms make it an excellent choice for the garden. Zones 6-9 are the best for this variety because it ripens in June.

Goldcot

“Goldcot” cultivar is ideal for Zones 4-8 in Michigan and has a chill requirement of 800 hours, making it ideal for colder climates. The fruits of this self-pollinating plant will ripen in the middle of the summer.

Large to medium-sized, round-shaped ‘Goldcot’ fruits can be found. There is firm, juicy orange flesh and a golden yellow skin with red spots. Freestone fruits’ deep, tangy-sweet flavor makes them ideal for preserving, drying, baking, or simply eating fresh.

The ‘Goldcot’ dwarf tree grows to only 8 feet tall, making it ideal for areas with limited space.

Golden Kist

During June, when the trees bear fruit, gold kist apricots require a lot of sunlight. They are ready for harvesting at this point. However, during the winter months, they require a certain amount of chill, without which they will not be able to grow properly. To understand why a plant prefers a colder winter, consider the following, since the plant doesn’t release growth inhibitors when it’s cold, this is why. The warmer weather in the spring encourages the plant to produce growth inhibitors, resulting in apricots in the summer, when the climate is suitable for the fruit’s growth.

Golden Sweet

North American gardeners are in for a treat. This apricot was designed for these conditions. If you live in a zone 5-8, this tree can be successfully planted in nearly every state.

As a self-pollinating fruit tree, the Golden Sweet Apricot is one of the most popular varieties. As a result, the tree’s flowers serve as its pollinators. Planting two or more of these will not be necessary for them to bear fruit.

In terms of Golden Sweet Apricot Trees, you should follow the golden rule of giving them roughly the same amount of space as their final canopy size. In other words, this tree will need at least 15 to 20 feet of room.

Harcot Apricot

The Harcot variety of apricot is one of many that can be grown successfully in zones 5 to 8, and this is no exception. While most apricot varieties perform best in warmer climates, the Harcot is ideal for colder regions because of its frost-resistant late bloom. Despite this, they should only be planted in warm climates.

Harglow

Smaller than average, this apricot tree can reach 12 feet. It was bred to be simple to grow as a hardy tree resistant to brown rot and some types of bacterial cankers.

It can tolerate temperatures as low as -25 degrees Fahrenheit and is relatively resistant to pests and insects. A single tree can produce up to 50 pounds of fruit in a single season. This medium-sized, bright orange apricot has a sweet, firm flesh.

Apricot trees of the Harglow variety have a wide range of recommended zones, ranging from zones 4 to 8, depending on the source.

Because of their vulnerability to late frost, apricot trees are best suited for zones five to eight. It is possible that the late blooming and early fruiting of the Harglow apricot makes it more resistant to this.

Hunza

Hunza apricots can thrive in USDA zones 4 through 9. In USDA Hardiness Zones 8 and 9, they may not produce every year because they require around 500 chilling hours.

At least 10 to 25 feet (3 to 5 meters) away from other trees and permanent structures. In Pakistan, they reach a mature height of 10 to 15 feet (3 to 5 meters) and a circumference of 10 to 15 feet. In North America, milder winters and increased irrigation may allow them to grow larger.

Royal Rosa

The golden-yellow base color of the Royal Rosa apricot has a medium-red blush over part of the fruit, giving it a stunning appearance. It is often described as honey or candy-like, it is a very sweet apricot variety. Dwarf varieties are available for those who prefer a even more manageable tree due to its small size.

Although it can reach a height of up to 25 feet, most growers choose to keep their Royal Rosa apricot trees at a manageable height of only 15 feet or so. It is easy to grow because it is disease-resistant, unlike most other apricot varieties.

Zones 7–9 are suitable for the Royal Rosa Apricot Tree. As a result, the trees will not be harmed by the cold in areas that aren’t too hot or too cold, respectively.

Katy

Many types of apricot trees grow well in zones 5 through 8, but the Katy Apricot thrives best in the warmer parts of zones 7 through 10. As a plant, it does best in the south. It is a favorite choice for gardeners of all kinds.

When the tree is fully grown, its height and spread are between 15 and 18 feet. This means that it should be planted in a place with a lot of space. Fortunately, this tree can be pruned, so you can cut it down to a smaller size. There is a good range for orchard use between six and ten feet. Cutting back the tree protects it from diseases and makes it easier to get the fruit out of the tree.

Moorpark

If you live in an cold or wet area, the Moorpark apricot tree will thrive. Zones five through eight are where it does best. One thing that helps it thrive in colder places is that it blooms late in the season, protecting it from late frosts. Moorpark apricot tree: It’s a pretty big tree that grows very quickly. If the plant is fully grown, it will be between 15 and 20 feet tall and have a canopy up to 20 feet across. You can expect the tree to grow about 24 inches each year. To get the best results, plant these trees at least 15 feet apart.

Patterson

Apricots grown in zones 4 to 9 perform well. They, like other varieties, do best when given a cold period during which to bear their fruit. A little more than four months is ideal for this time frame. Your Patterson apricot tree will thrive if you live in an area where temperatures consistently fall below 45°F (7°C) for at least 700 to 1,000 hours.

If you live in a colder climate, be on the lookout for frost damage on apricot trees. Cold-prone areas will do better with other types of plants.

Perfection Apricot

Zones 4 through 8 can grow the Perfection apricot. It has a reputation for being a hardy plant. If the spring has been unusually cold and there have been late frosts, this plant may not be able to bloom at its full potential. According to folklore, a bad spring can lead to an abundance of fruit from the tree.

Plumcot Hybrid Apricot

Plumcots, or pluots, are a type of plum. An apricot-plum hybrid, they are the result of cross-breeding. The fruit’s skin is usually yellow-red, and the flesh is red. Sweet and juicy, they’re ideal for fresh consumption. Zones 5-9. The plant thrives in the deep south.

Puget Gold

This cultivar, ‘Puget Gold,’ is native to the Pacific Northwest and thrives in Zones 4-9, requiring 600 chill hours. This late-blooming self-pollinating variety will produce a large harvest in the very last weeks of summer. The ‘Puget Gold’ cultivar produces large, elongated freestone fruits with orange skin. Intensely sweet with a low acidity, their orange flesh has a classic apricot flavor. Puget Gold apricots can be enjoyed fresh, canned, or dried in any way.

Tilton

‘Tilton’ is a cold-hardy variety that thrives in Zones 4 through 9, requiring only 600 chill hours to germinate. Early-blooming “Tilton” will produce a large harvest in the fall.

With golden skin and red blush, ‘Tilton’s’ large heart-shaped fruit is full of firm, golden flesh. “Tilton” apricots are known for their sweet and tart flavor and their tender and juicy texture. This freestone cultivar is a favorite for canning, drying, freezing, or simply eating.

Tomcot

‘Tomcot,’ first cultivated in the Pacific Northwest, is hardy in zones 4 through 8. There is some self-pollination in this cultivar, with a chill requirement of 500-600 hours. It will be a more vigorous grower if another variety is planted nearby. It opens its flowers earlier than any of the other varieties featured here. Even if a late frost kills all of the flower buds, some will still be able to produce fruit because it is a long bloomers. In addition, the plant’s blooms are somewhat resistant to frost. The early bloom of ‘Tomcot,’ on the other hand, means an earlier harvest. It produces large, firm fruits with light orange, glossy skin that blushes in the sunlight. Freestone and tart in flavor, the sweet orange flesh is a treat to eat. For both eating and baking, apricots are a great choice.

Wenatchee

Zones 5 through 9 can grow Wenatchee apricot trees. As a result, it is a popular choice in areas with a lot of rainfall, like the Pacific Northwest. This is due to the variety’s resistance to frost and excessive moisture, leading to disease in less hardy fruit trees.

Semi-dwarf trees, such as the Wenatchee apricot, are not uncommon. When fully grown, its height ranges from 12 to 18 feet, and it has numerous, widely spaced branches. The tree should be planted in an area where the soil drains well. Some gardeners can better drain the soil in a raised garden bed.

Summary of Apricot Varieties Growing Zone