Aprikyra® inter-specific trees

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• Self-fertility: Self-fertile

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.

Growing and Training

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-flowering 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.

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

Similar varieties

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

British-grown trees

Unlike many garden centres and online retailers, the vast majority of our fruit trees are grown in the UK. Find out more.

In addition, all our trees are certified under the Plant Healthy scheme, supervised by the Plant Health Alliance. Other stakeholders include Defra and the RHS. The scheme aims to improve UK biosecurity by setting standards for all growers and retailers involved in selling plants in the UK. Find out more

Guaranteed fruit trees

When you buy your fruit tree from Orange Pippin Fruit Trees we guarantee it for the first season in your garden whilst it gets established. If it doesn't grow successfully, we'll either replace it the following season or offer a refund - subject to some conditions. Find out more.