Apricots are one of the most delicious fruits that can be grown in home gardens. Their sweet, juicy flavor is hard to beat when picked fresh off the tree. But before planting an apricot tree, it’s important to understand how big they can get. Their mature size can impact where you locate it and how you prune and care for it.
An Overview of Apricot Tree Sizes
Apricot trees come in a wide range of sizes, from dwarf varieties under 10 feet tall to standard trees that can reach 25 feet tall or more. Here’s a quick overview of the sizes to expect
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Dwarf apricot trees – These compact trees reach a mature height of 8-10 feet with an equal spread They are suited to growing in containers and small gardens
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Semi-dwarf apricot trees – Slightly larger than dwarf varieties, these trees grow 12-15 feet tall and wide They work well for many home landscapes
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Standard apricot trees – The largest apricot trees, standards grow 15-25 feet tall with a spread of around 20 feet wide. They become large shade trees.
Now let’s look in more detail at what impacts apricot tree size and how to choose the right size for your needs.
What Determines Apricot Tree Size
There are two main factors that control the mature size of apricot trees:
Genetics
Apricot tree varieties are naturally predisposed to growing to certain sizes. For example, the variety ‘Garden Aprigold’ is a genetic dwarf that will stay compact even on a vigorous rootstock. While the variety ‘Moorpark’ is an industry standard, naturally growing quite large.
So genetics sets the baseline for the potential tree size, which is then modified further by:
Rootstock Selection
All apricot trees are grafted onto rootstocks that control their vigor and size. Aprilcot trees on dwarfing rootstocks like ‘Torinel’ or ‘Krymsk 86’ will remain much smaller than those on invigorating rootstocks like ‘St Julian A’.
So by selecting compact varieties grafted on dwarfing rootstocks, you can ensure a diminutive tree even in a small garden. While large varieties on vigorous rootstocks are best for orchard-like settings.
Dwarf Apricot Trees – Best for Small Spaces
Dwarf apricot trees are ideal if you need a compact fruit tree. They mature to just 8-10 feet tall and wide.
Although small in stature, dwarf apricot trees produce full-sized, standard apricots. With their compact form, dwarf trees are easy to net and harvest. Their size also means you can grow them in containers on a patio or plant them in a small backyard.
Some excellent dwarf apricot varieties to look for include:
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‘Garden Aprigold’ – A true genetic dwarf variety that naturally stays under 8 feet tall. It’s self-fertile and bears sweet, golden apricots in mid summer.
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‘Puget Gold’ – A semi-dwarf variety growing to 10 feet. Its fruit is sweet and tangy with orange skin.
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‘Goldkist’ – Another semi-dwarf reaching 10 feet tall. It produces large, firm, golden orange fruit.
When buying a dwarf apricot, check that it is grafted onto a dwarfing rootstock like ‘Torinel’ or ‘Krymsk 86’. This will ensure it stays petite.
Semi-Dwarf Apricot Trees
Semi-dwarf apricot trees are a medium-sized option, growing 12-15 feet tall and wide. Though not as compact as true dwarf varieties, they are still suited to many residential gardens.
Semi-dwarf apricots are large enough to provide some shade and ornamental value, while still being small enough to harvest and maintain with ease.
Some top picks for semi-dwarf apricot trees include:
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‘Harcot’ – A self-fertile semi-dwarf variety that produces sweet, juicy, orange apricots in mid summer.
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‘Goldrich’ – This semi-dwarf tree bears large, firm, sweet apricots with a deep orange skin. It has good disease resistance.
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‘Katy’ – An excellent semi-dwarf variety for colder climates. It yields sweet reddish-orange fruit in late summer.
For semi-dwarf sizes, look for trees grafted on ‘Torinel’ or ‘Krymsk 86’ rootstocks.
Standard Apricot Trees – Ideal for Large Spaces
Standard apricot trees make up the largest size category, growing up to 20-25 feet tall and wide at maturity. Their expansive canopies provide ample shade, making them ideal for multi-purpose use as both fruiting and shade trees.
With their large size, standard apricot trees work best on larger properties where they have plenty of room to spread. They can also be used to create an orchard-like planting along a fence line.
Some of the best varieties for standard apricot trees include:
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‘Moorpark’ – Extremely vigorous tree that bears medium to large apricots with exceptional flavor. It can reach 25 feet tall.
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‘Blenheim’ – A heavy producing variety that bears sweet, juicy apricots. Grows 20 feet tall.
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‘Tilton’ – Large, firm, and flavorful apricots. The tree can reach 20 feet.
For standard trees, look for those grafted onto ‘St. Julian A’ rootstock. This will allow them to achieve their full large size.
Caring for Apricot Trees Based on Their Size
The mature size of your apricot tree will impact some care and maintenance factors:
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Pruning – Larger trees will require more extensive pruning to maintain their shape and keep the canopy open to light and air circulation.
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Harvesting – Dwarf trees are easier to harvest than tall standards. You may need a ladder for larger trees.
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Fertilizing – Standard trees have higher nutrient needs than dwarfs.
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Watering – Larger trees demand more water than smaller ones, especially while establishing.
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Chill hours – Compact trees need less winter chill than vigorous varieties.
So choose the smallest tree that will work for your space to simplify care. Just ensure it is suited to your climate.
The Best Apricot Tree Size for Your Yard
When choosing an apricot tree, start by considering your available space. Dwarf varieties in containers are great for patios and tiny yards. Sem-dwarfs work for small to mid-sized gardens. While standard apricot trees are best reserved for larger properties.
Select the smallest tree that will fit your garden situation. Compact dwarf trees produce abundantly but are easier to manage long-term. With the right variety and rootstock combination, you can enjoy apricots perfectly sized for your landscape.
Planting in a container
Plum trees can be grown in big pots that are at least 45 cm (18 in) across and filled with peat-free soil-based compost, like John Innes No. 3. They will need regular watering and feeding, and usually annual pruning to keep them compact. You could also pick a dwarf apricot, like “Garden Aprigold,” which will grow into a small tree up to 1 5m (5ft) tall that needs little or no pruning. See our guides below for planting and growing advice.
Most apricot trees, especially those in containers, need regular watering, feeding and annual pruning. Because apricots are grown in the same way as peaches, our video guide to growing peaches has useful tips that you can also use for apricots.
- For newly planted trees, make sure to water them often for at least the first spring and summer until they are well established.
- Fan-trained trees may need more watering because the wall or fence often cuts down on the amount of rain they get.
- Trees in pots need a lot of water during the growing season because containers dry out quickly, especially when it’s warm outside, and rain alone isn’t usually enough.
- Established trees that stand on their own usually only need to be watered during dry spells when the fruits are beginning to swell to keep them from falling off.
- Apricots in a greenhouse: water often, up to every day in the summer
If you put trees in pots, make sure the water can drain out quickly. This is especially important in the winter, when the roots will rot in cold, wet compost. Also, raise the container onto ‘pot feet’ or bricks to keep the drainage holes clear and avoid waterlogging.
To keep the soil moist, put a 5 cm (2 in) layer of well-rotted manure around the roots in March or early April. This will help to avoid drought stress, especially in early to mid-summer when the fruits are swelling.
To get more fruit from apricot trees in late winter, feed them a general fertilizer high in potassium, like Vitax Q4 or fish, blood, and bone. Spread two handfuls of mulch around the tree’s base per square meter or yard. Give trees in pots a high potassium liquid feed every couple of weeks through spring and summer. Also, move them to a slightly bigger pot every few years in the spring, once their roots fill up the current one. Use peat-free, loam-based compost.
What and where to buy
Apricot trees are sold either bare-root (without soil) or in pots. Bare-root trees are usually less expensive, but you can only get them from late fall to early spring, usually from specialized stores. Potted trees are sold all year round and more widely available. It’s best for apricot trees to be grown as a fan, so you might want to buy a two- or three-year-old fan that’s already partly trained instead of a younger tree that you have to train from scratch. Pre-trained trees are more expensive and usually only available from specialist fruit nurseries. It’s possible to grow your own apricot tree from a store-bought fruit stone, but it might not do well in the UK. If you want an apricot tree that will reliably bear fruit in the UK, you should buy a good quality grafted tree of the right variety from a reputable UK supplier.
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The best place to plant an apricot tree is next to a wall or fence that faces south, south-west, or west. This way, the trees can be trained to face these directions and get the most sun and heat. Since they flower early in the spring, pick a spot that doesn’t get heavy or late frosts, which can hurt the flower and make it harder to harvest. See our guide to positioning fruit trees. Dwarf types, which are often sold as patio fruit trees, do well in pots but do best in a greenhouse that isn’t heated over the winter. In milder regions and/or very warm, sheltered, sunny locations, apricots may also crop successfully as free-standing trees. In very cold regions, they’re best grown in an unheated greenhouse or polytunnel. Apricots like deep, fertile, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil that is ideally slightly acid to neutral. Avoid planting in poorly drained soil, which can cause the roots to rot. Apricot trees don’t do well in light or shallow soil. To make the soil better, add a lot of garden compost or well-rotted manure. From November to March, when the tree is dormant, is the best time to plant an apricot tree. Fall is the best time because the soil is still warm and damp. See our planting guides below for full details.
How to Plant and Prune a Bare Root Apricot Tree || Black Gumbo
FAQ
How long does it take an apricot tree to bear fruit?
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Fruit Tree Type
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Years to Bear
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Apricot Trees
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2-5 years
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Avacado Trees
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3-4 years
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Banana Plants
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2-3 years
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Sour Cherry Trees
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3-5 years
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How much space does an apricot tree need?
Are apricot trees high maintenance?
Do you need 2 apricot trees?
How fast do apricot trees grow?
A semi-dwarf tree will grow quicker than a standard tree, averaging about 2 feet per year, and it will reach its maximum height faster. Since semi-dwarf apricot trees don’t grow as large, they can be placed closer together than full-size types.
How big do apricot trees grow?
Apricot trees can grow up to 20 to 25 feet tall and wide for standard trees. Semi-dwarfs reach 12 to 18 feet in height and spread, and dwarf varieties are much smaller, topping out at five to eight feet tall and wide. Apricots are self-pollinating, but planting two different varieties that bloom at the same time can result in a bigger harvest.
How big do semi dwarf apricot trees get?
Semi-dwarf apricot trees will grow to be between 12 and 18 feet tall and 5 to 10 feet wide at maturity. Their size will depend on the exact variety, rootstock used, and overall growing conditions, such as soil quality, rainfall, nutrient availability, and pruning. Everything you need to know about semi-dwarf apricot trees is in this article!
How far apart do apricot trees grow?
Dwarf apricots can be from 12 to 15 feet tall; space dwarf trees 12 to 15 feet apart. Apricot trees in spring bloom. Most apricots are self-fertile and will produce fruit if planted alone. ‘Riland’ and ‘Perfection’ are the only varieties that are not self-fruitful; they require another apricot within 300 feet.
