Apricot | Description, Tree, Plant, Fruit, & Facts | Britannica

History and cultivation

The apricot was originally domesticated in China but is now cultivated on every continent except Antarctica. Archaeological evidence shows that apricots were eaten in ancient Armenia, and they were first introduced to the New World in the early 18th century by Spanish missionaries in California. In 2024 the top five producers of apricots were Turkey, Uzbekistan, Iran, Algeria, and Italy.

Related Topics: amaretto Prunus fruit (Show more) See all related content Ceviche. Peruvian ceviche (sebiche). Raw seafood dish with lime, cilantro, peppers, plantains. Cuisine, food Britannica Quiz A World of Food Quiz Taxonomy
  • Kingdom: Plantae
  • Clade: Angiosperm
  • Order: Rosales
  • Family: Rosaceae
  • Genus: Prunus

See also list of plants in the family Rosaceae

Apricots are propagated by budding on peach or apricot rootstocks, and peaches, plums, and apricots may be readily intergrafted. The tree succeeds in well-drained loamy soil, preferably light rather than heavy. Most varieties withstand winter cold as well as peaches, but the blossom buds, opening earlier than those of the peach, are frequently killed by late freezes. The trees are quite drought-resistant and under favorable growing conditions are long-lived, some living 100 years or longer.

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