Compacta® apricot trees
Prunus armeniaca Compacta is a naturally-dwarf apricot, probably the best choice if you want to grow an apricot in a small space.
This is the apricot variety featured on BBC Gardeners' World in October 2017. However we do not recommend growing this tree in a container, even though this was suggested in the programme.
The fruits are orange, and the stone comes away cleanly from the flesh (freestone).
It is slow-growing and should not get taller than about 2m.
The blossom is also reasonably frost-resistant.
Compacta apricot 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 £65.50
Small tree
(1.5m-2.5m after 10 years)
Need help? Ask our fruit tree experts
Call us on 01759 392007 or fill in our contact form.
Next deliveries
Order now for delivery from week commencing 25th November for pot grown trees or December for bare-root or mixed tree orders.
Delivery charges
Delivery for a single tree starts at £9.95, it is calculated based on your postcode.
Growing and Training
Like all apricots, Compacta should be planted in full sun, and sheltered from wind and rain. The ideal is to plant the tree directly in the ground about 1m-2m or so in front of a south-facing wall, but any sheltered situation exposed to the south should be suitable.
It also helps if you can keep the rain off the tree over the autumn and winter, e.g. using a horticultural fleece.
We strongly recommend that you plant this tree directly in the ground, and when planting the tree do not use compost in the planting hole.
Compacta is not really suitable for growing in a container. If you wish to grow it in a container make sure you use a very large one, at least 200L-500L, and the compost / soil mix should have plenty of grit to ensure free drainage.
History
Apricots usually become quite large vigorous trees, but as the name suggests, Compacta was developed from the start to be a small tree, suitable for growing in small gardens. It is a cross between an American variety called Moongold and an un-named research variety developed by the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station.
Compacta characteristics
- Gardening skillExperienced
- Self-fertilitySelf-fertile
- Flowering group3
- Pollinating othersAverage
- Climate suitabilityTemperate climatesWarm climates
- Picking seasonMid
- CroppingGood
- Keeping (of fruit)1 week
- Food usesEating freshCulinary
- Country of originUnited States
- Period of origin2000
- Blossom colourWhite
- Fruit colourOrange
- Flesh colourGolden / Yellow
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.
