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Aprikyra® inter-specific trees

Prunus pumila var. besseyi x armeniaca
  • Self-fertility: Self-fertile
  • Flowering group: 2

Aprikyra is an example of an aprichery or cherrycot - a cross between an apricot and a type of cherry known as a sand cherry. The fruit looks like a small apricot, but with the dark black/red skin of a cherry. The flavour is also a bit of a melange of the two species, arguably more apricot than cherry.

In good conditions it should start fruiting within 2 years of planting. The fruits ripen over a long period, starting at the end of July.

Aprikyra can be eaten fresh from the tree, but like all apricots is useful in the kitchen too - and the stone comes away cleanly from the dark red flesh.

Aprikyra inter-specific trees for sale

Pot-grown

All pot-grown trees are suitable for planting out in the garden, some are suitable for growing in containers.

  • PG12-year bush-trained 12L pot-grown tree St. Julien rootstock £43.50
    Large tree (3m-4m after 10 years)
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Next deliveries

Order now for delivery early March (when showing as being in stock)

How to grow

Aprikyra flowers very early in the spring, reflecting its apricot ancestry. It is also reliably self-fertile and the blossom has some frost-resistance. It will also cross-pollinate with most late-flowring apricots.

Aprikyra has some resistance to brown rot (Monilinia fructicola) a common fungal disease of stone fruits which affects the blossom and then the developing fruits.

From a gardening point of view Aprikira is probably best treated as an apricot. That means plant it in a warm sheltered spot, in full sun, and keep pruning to an absolute minimum.

Advice on fruit tree pollination.

History

Hybridisation between stone fruits such as plums, cherries, and apricots is widespread in nature. Apricots are a particular focus in the development of new inter-specific fruit varieties because they naturally produce larger fruits than cherries or plums, yet will easily cross-pollinate with them. In the case of Aprikyra the other partner is a sand cherry (Prunus pumila) which is native to the western areas of the USA and Canada.

Aprikyra is also known as Aprikira.

Aprikyra characteristics

Growing

  • Gardening skillAverage
  • Self-fertilitySelf-fertile
  • Flowering group2
  • Pollinating othersAverage
  • Climate suitabilityTemperate climates

Using

  • Picking monthJuly
  • CroppingGood
  • Keeping (of fruit)1-3 days
  • Food usesEating freshCulinary
  • Cling-stoneFreestone

Problems

  • Disease resistanceAverage

Climate

    Identification

    • Period of origin1950 - 1999
    • Flesh colourDark red
    • Fruit colourRed - dark
    • Fruit sizeAverage

    Similar varieties

    • Aprisali
      A sweet self-fertile apricot - plum cross, also known as an Aprium.