JAPANESE APRICOT

Prunus mume 'Peggy Clarke'

COLLECTION

Royce Rhododendron

FAMILY

Rosaceae

PLANT TYPE

Tree, Deciduous

ZONE

6-9

CULTURE

Japanese Apricot grows best in full sun and requires fertile, well-drained soil. It grows as a small ornamental upright vase-shaped tree.

NOTEWORTHY CHARACTERISTICS

‘Peggy Clarke’ has deep pink flowers bloom in pairs in early spring, have extremely long stamens and red calyxes. Fruits are edible but are of poor quality compared to the common apricot (Prunus armeniaca) but they can be made into jams and preserves.

PROBLEMS

Can fall victim to borers, as well as diseases such as cankers, and brown rot.

GARDEN USES

Use as a small flowering specimen or accent, similar to dogwoods, redbuds, and cherries.

HISTORY

Introduced into our collection in 2013. While it can be difficult to find in the United States, Japanese Apricots are gaining popularity in the nursery trade. There are currently over 250 cultivars.

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