Name: Prunus 'Early Moorpark' | Apricot Tree
SKU: prunus_armeniaca_early_moorpark
Availability: InStock

Small and compact, this tree can grow happily in your garden, but can also be just as rewarding in a pot, say, on a balcony. The tree is fully winter hardy, but will like full sun, against a south-facing wall, to give it protection from wind and rain. The fragrant blossom will help pollinate your tree, and you may get 200-300 apricots per tree after a good season. The fruits are large and yellow, and take on an attractive red-orange tinge when fully ripe. ‘Early Moorpark’ has been awarded the Award of Garden Merit given by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), which helps gardeners make informed choices about plants.

Characteristics

Flower Colour: Light pink
Foliage Colour: Green
Approx. Growth Height: 4-5m
Rootstock: Myrobalan – Semi-Dwarfing
Comes in a: 9L polypot (not a rigid pot)
Approx. Height on Arrival: 120-150cm (4-5 ft)
Tree is approx 1 year old with a 2 year old rootstock
Flowering Period: Spring (April – May)
Harvesting Period: August
Season of Use: August – September
Growing Habit: Bush, cordon, espalier, fan
Uses: Eating fresh, cooking, jams
Hardiness: Fully hardy
Exposure: Exposed, sheltered
Self pollinating: Yes – (see ‘Pollination’ section below)
Rate of Growth: Fast
Scented: barely
Wildlife friendly – Attracts bees and other pollinating insects

Features

Q:Does Height Really Matter?

A: Not As Much As You Might Think…

One stand out specification that customers often use to judge the value of a tree is the height. So should height directly correlate with the price of a tree? No, not necessarily.
To an extent the height of a tree can give you a good indication of its maturity but you must not forget: To grow a productive, well shaped, healthy tree you must prune it back regularly, especially when young.
Our trees often grow up to 2m in the fields before we prune them back and package them ready to send out. This pruning encourages the tree to grow more, stronger branches and ensures there is a good balance between the root size and top growth. This ensures that your tree puts energy into establishing a healthy root base instead of supporting top growth, providing a better foundation for your tree in the future.
So, in summary: Donâ€™t let the extra 10/20cm you may find elsewhere sway you. You are likely to be paying extra for the delivery costs and, if you want a healthy tree in the long run, youâ€™re going to have to chop it off anyway!

Fruit Benefits

These fruits taste best when freshly picked from their branches. They please even the most sophisticated of palates, and can be made into jams and preserves to bring great summer memories on autumn or winter days. Fruit plants are a valuable addition to any garden, bearing in mind that they do not only provide fruits, but also make a bold statement in garden arrangements by producing clouds of pink and white flowers, which at the slightest breeze fall like raindrops. When planning your garden, try to choose varieties with fruits that ripen from early summer to late autumn to ensure a constant supply of fresh fruits throughout the warmer months.

RHS Award of Garden Merit

The Award of Garden Merit or AGM is an award made to garden plants by the British Royal Horticultural Society after a period of assessment by the appropriate committees of the Society. Awards are made annually after plant trials (which may last for one or more years, depending on the type of plant being trialled) at RHS Garden, Wisley and other RHS gardens, or after observation of plants in specialist collections. This is intended to judge the plants’ performance for conditions in the UK.