Prunus armeniaca
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Armeniaca vulgaris
- Phonetic Spelling
- PROO-nus ar-men-ee-AY-kah
- This plant has medium severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
Prunus armeniaca is a deciduous tree cultivated in gardens as a fruit tree; it is the most commonly cultivated species of apricot. Its leaves are alternate, simple, toothed on the margin, with 2 small glands at base of blade. The fowers are usually solitary, 5-parted, and are white or pinkish. The edible fruit is a fleshy drupe with a large pit (stone), yellow to reddish in color.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Susceptible to fungal and bacterial diseases and wood rots.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Wilson Delicious'
Dwarf variety
- 'Wilson Delicious'
- 'Wilson Delicious'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Wilson Delicious'
Dwarf variety
- 'Wilson Delicious'
- 'Wilson Delicious'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Prunus
- Species:
- armeniaca
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central Asia to Northern & Central China
- Wildlife Value:
- This is a larval host plant to Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus). You may see three flights from February-November in the deep south and two flights from May-September in the north.
- Play Value:
- Edible fruit
- Edibility:
- Fruit edible raw, dried, or cooked.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 20 ft. 0 in. - 40 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 20 ft. 0 in. - 40 ft. 0 in.
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-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Poisonous
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Maintenance:
- High
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- Fruit fleshy with a large pit (stone), yellow to reddish.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- White
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Description:
- Flowers usually solitary, 5-parted, white or pinkish.
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-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Ovate green leaves have serrated margins with 2 small glands at the base of the blade.
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-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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-
Landscape:
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Edible Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Flowering Tree
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Problems:
- Frequent Disease Problems
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
-
-
Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Medium
- Poison Symptoms:
- The pits contain cyanide compounds, which are poisonous. If a couple of pits are accidentally swallowed, it will not cause poisoning. The pits are more poisonous if they are ground up/crushed or the seeds are chewed. Fruit that has not been pitted should not be blended into a smoothie. Symptoms include Gasping, weakness, excitement, pupil dilation, spasms, convulsions, coma, respiratory failure.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Cyanogenic glycoside, amygdalin
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- No
- Poison Part:
- Leaves
- Seeds
- Stems
