Plant Details

Prunus armeniaca

Apricot

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Common names

46 names · 33 languages
EnglishYour language
Other languages (32)
Dutch
French
Afrikaans
  • Appelkoos[2]
  • gewone appelkoos[2]
Arabic
Arapaho
  • hecesbiisib[2]
Armenian
  • Ծիրան[2]
Catalan
  • Albercoquer[2]
Chinese (Simplified)
+2 more namesShow fewer names
Chinese (Traditional)
Czech
  • meruňka obecná[2]
Danish
Estonian
  • harilik aprikoosipuu[2]
Finnish
German
Greek
  • Βερικοκιά[2]
Hebrew
  • משמש[2]
  • משמש מצוי[2]
Hungarian
  • kajszibarack[2]
  • sárgabarack[2]
Italian
Japanese
Korean
  • 개살구나무[2]
Kurdish
  • قەیسی[2]
Laadan
Polish
  • Morela pospolita[2]
Portuguese
  • Damasqueiro[2]
Romanian
Russian
  • Абрикос обыкновенный[2]
Slovak
  • marhuľa obyčajná[2]
Sotho
  • Apolekose, Aprikose[2]
Spanish
Swedish
Turkish
Ukrainian
  • Абрикоса[2]
Sources & name notes (2)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Prunus armeniaca L. ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Abricot (FR) — VernacularName.tsv, line 168386; taxon 4N8NW.
  • Apricot (EN) — VernacularName.tsv, line 168387; taxon 4N8NW.
  • Aprikose (DE) — VernacularName.tsv, line 168388; taxon 4N8NW.
[2] Prunus armeniaca — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • apricot — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 135331; Prunus armeniaca.
  • chabacano — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 135331; Prunus armeniaca.
  • Damasqueiro — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 135331; Prunus armeniaca.
  • meruňka obecná — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 135331; Prunus armeniaca.
  • Aprikose — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 135331; Prunus armeniaca.
  • משמש — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 135331; Prunus armeniaca.
  • Abrikoos — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 135331; Prunus armeniaca.
  • harilik aprikoosipuu — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 135331; Prunus armeniaca.
  • Abricotier — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 135331; Prunus armeniaca.
  • Абрикос обыкновенный — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 135331; Prunus armeniaca.
  • Абрикоса — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 135331; Prunus armeniaca.
  • Marille — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 135331; Prunus armeniaca.
  • アンズ — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 135331; Prunus armeniaca.
  • 杏 — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 135331; Prunus armeniaca.
  • Albaricoque — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 135331; Prunus armeniaca.
  • Ծիրան — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 135331; Prunus armeniaca.
  • aprikos — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 135331; Prunus armeniaca.
  • hecesbiisib — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 135331; Prunus armeniaca.
  • Albicocco — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 135331; Prunus armeniaca.
  • thuyu — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 135331; Prunus armeniaca.
  • 杏 — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 135331; Prunus armeniaca.
  • 개살구나무 — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 135331; Prunus armeniaca.
  • kayısı — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 135331; Prunus armeniaca.
  • Appelkoos — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 135331; Prunus armeniaca.
  • Abrikos — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 135331; Prunus armeniaca.
  • Cais — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 135331; Prunus armeniaca.
  • gewone appelkoos — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 135331; Prunus armeniaca.
  • Common Apricot — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 135331; Prunus armeniaca.
  • Apolekose, Aprikose — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 135331; Prunus armeniaca.
  • marhuľa obyčajná — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 135331; Prunus armeniaca.
  • مشمش — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 135331; Prunus armeniaca.
  • משמש מצוי — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 135331; Prunus armeniaca.
  • 普通杏 — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 135331; Prunus armeniaca.
  • 杏子 — results[0].names[34]; taxon id 135331; Prunus armeniaca.
  • kajszibarack — results[0].names[35]; taxon id 135331; Prunus armeniaca.
  • Morela pospolita — results[0].names[36]; taxon id 135331; Prunus armeniaca.
  • sárgabarack — results[0].names[37]; taxon id 135331; Prunus armeniaca.
  • 杏儿 — results[0].names[38]; taxon id 135331; Prunus armeniaca.
  • 杏树 — results[0].names[39]; taxon id 135331; Prunus armeniaca.
  • 唐桃 — results[0].names[40]; taxon id 135331; Prunus armeniaca.
  • aprikoosi — results[0].names[41]; taxon id 135331; Prunus armeniaca.
  • Albercoquer — results[0].names[42]; taxon id 135331; Prunus armeniaca.
  • Βερικοκιά — results[0].names[43]; taxon id 135331; Prunus armeniaca.
  • قەیسی — results[0].names[44]; taxon id 135331; Prunus armeniaca.
  • Malete — results[0].names[45]; taxon id 135331; Prunus armeniaca.

General information

Scientific name: Prunus armeniaca
Accepted name (Kew): Prunus armeniaca L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [5] [6]
Botanical family: Rosaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Prunus (WCVP v16).

Sources [5]
Also known as: Apricot
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Fruit tree
Catalogue size class: Small, Medium
Height: 6.1–12.19 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [1]
Spread: 6.1–12.19 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [1]
Growth rate: Moderate
Sources [1]
Foliage: Deciduous
Sources [1]
Growth habit: Broad, Dense

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [1]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [1]
Soil moisture:
Moist, Well-drained

Preferred growing conditions. Moisture and drainage are different properties; well-drained soil is not necessarily dry.

Sources [4] [1]
Soil:
Clay, Loam (Silt), Sand
Sources [1]
pH:
Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Sources [1]
Light:
Full sun
Sources [1]

Uses

Edible parts:
Fruit, Oil, Seed
Edibility rating:
(4)
Medicinal rating:
(3)
Functions:
Adhesive, Dye, Gum, Oil, Wood, Carbon farming

Description

Prunus armeniaca is a deciduous fruit tree. Its fruit flesh can be eaten fresh, cooked or dried. Apricot kernels can release cyanide and should not be presented as freely edible, including sweet kernels. This kernel hazard is distinct from ordinary consumption of the fruit flesh.

Sources [1] [2] [3]

Harvest

Harvest starts: 20/07
Harvest ends: 20/08

Crown

Crown shape: Rounded

Typical tree form described by the RHS.

Sources [4]
Crown density: Dense crown

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. NC State Extension Prunus armeniaca | Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: DescriptionSoil moistureHeightSpreadGrowth rateFoliageGrowth habitLightSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Description: Description; Whole Plant Traits; Edibility; Poison Symptoms and Toxic Principle, where applicable
    • Soil moisture: Cultural Conditions: Soil Drainage
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 20 ft. 0 in. - 40 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 20 ft. 0 in. - 40 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Light: Light
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .

  2. European Food Safety Authority Apricot kernels pose risk of cyanide poisoning
    Supports: Description
    Relevant sections
    • Description: Apricot kernel cyanide risk and distinction from fruit flesh

    Source checked on .

  3. Health Canada Cyanide in apricot kernels
    Supports: Description
    Relevant sections
    • Description: Health risks and distinction between bitter and sweet apricot kernels

    Source checked on .

  4. Royal Horticultural Society Prunus armeniaca | RHS Plant Profile
    Supports: Soil moistureCrown shape
    Relevant sections
    • Soil moisture: Growing conditions: Moisture; Cultivation
    • Crown shape: Description: tree crown

    Source checked on .

  5. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 343710; name ID 2958711; Prunus L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 170982; name ID 2901800; Prunus armeniaca L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  6. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Prunus armeniaca

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 1041494, ID 4N8NW: Prunus armeniaca L. (accepted).

    Source checked on .