Culture
Best grown in average, medium moisture, well-drained soil in full sun. Prefers moisture-retentive soils with good drainage. Best sited in a sheltered location (e.g., sloping ground on the south side of the home). Avoid planting in low-lying areas which can act as frost pockets. Hardy in Zones 5-8. The rootstock of a given cultivar will affect its cultural needs, tolerances, and hardiness.
Self-pollinating.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Prunus armeniaca, commonly called dwarf apricot, is a small, deciduous tree native to northern China and grown primarily for its edible fruit. Mature plants will reach 16-32' tall with a densely branched, spreading canopy of equal width. The ovate leaves can reach 2-3.5" long, 1.5-3" wide and have serrated margins with small glands on the teeth. The 1" wide, five-petaled, fragrant flowers are pink in bud but white once they open and bloom in spring before the foliage emerges. The round, 1-2.5" wide fruits have golden orange, smooth to pubescent skin, fleshy, red-tinged fruit and a center pit or stone. Cultivars are grafted onto rootstocks, which control the size of the tree.
Genus name from Latin means plum or cherry tree.
Specific epithet means of Armenia, Western Asia.
STARK GOLDEN GLO is a miniature tree that is grafted onto a dwarfing rootstock. It typically grows to only 4-6’ tall. Miniature trees such as this bear full-size fruit, but have the advantages of (1) fitting into smaller sites, including containers, (2) being more manageable (easier to prune, spray and harvest) and (3) bearing fruit at an earlier age. This cultivar features mildly sweet golden apricots that ripen in mid-July in the St. Louis area.
Problems
Apricots in general can be difficult to grow in Missouri because (a) their early blooming flowers (two weeks earlier than peaches) are extremely susceptible to frost injury and (2) insects/diseases. Potential disease problems include brown rot, root rot and bacterial leaf spot. Potential insect pests include plum curculio, borers and aphids. Mites can also be a problem. Although good sanitation practices are always essential, chemical spraying is usually necessary in order to adequately control pests.
Uses
Grown primarily for the fruit crop, but has early-blooming ornamental value.
This miniature apricot is ideal for smaller spaces in the landscape. It also may be effectively grown in containers (18-24”) that should be overwintered in sheltered areas such as unheated garages.