Aprium® Interspecific Apricots
Aprium® interspecific hybrids are complex crosses of apricot and plum. Unlike plumcots, which are simple plum x apricot crosses, Aprium® interspecifics were developed by the Zaigers through intricate hybridizing, requiring several generations of crosses to create these new fruits.
Aprium® interspecifics, with their scant fuzz, resemble apricots - their apricot parentage is expressed.
The complex, intense flavor of both Pluot® and Aprium® is unique to interspecifics, much like a blend of fruit juices where the mixture is an improvement over any of the separate ingredients. Additionally, the sugar content of our interspecifics is much higher than in any standard plum or apricot--yielding fruit of incomparable sweetness.
These delicious new types of fruit will provide new opportunities for the tree fruit grower.
We introduced Flavor Delight Aprium® interspecific and Flavor Supreme and Flavor Queen Pluot® interspecifics to the home garden nursery trade in 1989. The Aprium® interspecifics described on this page, along with the new interspecific Zaiger rootstocks--Citation, Atlas and Viking--represent the most advanced fruit varietal development in the world today.
Pluot® and Aprium® are registered trademarks of Zaiger Genetics, Modesto, California.
Autumn Sprite
Named for its late harvest time, Autumn Sprite is a yellow-orange aprium® with a slight reddish blush. Maturing in the first two weeks of August, the freestone Autumn Sprite features medium size (88 gram average weight), and firm, sweet flesh (15.6 average Brix). The self-fertile Autumn Sprite tree is large and vigorous with a very productive semi-spreading growth habit. This selection has an estimated chilling requirement of 800 hours. (U.S. Plant Patent #16599)
Bella Cerise
Despite the red skin color and yellow flesh, Bella Cerise surprises tasters with its juicy apricot flavor. This large, clingstone fruit averages 139.2 grams and is firm, but not overly sweet (14.4 average Brix). The short harvest season of Bella Cerise occurs in mid-June. Bella Cerise requires a pollenizer such as Escort. This selection has an estimated chilling requirement of 800 hours. (U.S. Plant Patent #18815)
Bella Gold
With a strong resemblance to its apricot parent, Bella Gold has bright yellow skin that is blushed almost completely red. This semi-freestone fruit is plump with slightly pubescent skin. Bella Gold matures in mid-June with firm yellow flesh, large size (114 gram average weight), and a wonderful complex flavor (15.7 average Brix). Bella Gold interspecific apricot requires a pollenizer such as Escort. This selection has an estimated chilling requirement of 600 hours. (U.S. Plant Patent #17826)
Bella Rose
With a semi-dwarfing habit, Bella Rose Aprium® produces beautiful fruit in late May. This aprium® features large size, red color, and good flavor. Bella Rose has an estimated chilling requirement of 750 hours and requires a pollenizer such as Escort. (U.S. Plant Patent Pending)
Bella Royale
Beautiful and sweet, Bella Royale is destined to impress consumers with an attractive orange-to-red skin color and a remarkable flavor (20.1 average Brix). This nearly spherical clingstone matures in the first two weeks of August with an average weight of 122.1 grams. Bella Royale requires a pollenizer. This selection has an estimated chilling requirement of 800 hours. (U.S. Plant Patent #19925)
Coral Cot
The freestone Coral Cot Aprium® averages an impressive 133.5 grams in weight. Coral Cot matures from the first week of June with firm orange flesh and nearly smooth skin. The self-fertile Coral Cot tree is vigorous and semi-spreading with an estimated chilling requirement of 600 hours. (U.S. Plant Patent #19563)
Escort
Escort Aprium® features bright orange skin and orange freestone flesh. This variety reaches maturity in the first week of June and holds firm on the tree 12-14 days after maturity. The self-fertile Escort Aprium® is large (113 grams average weight) and sweet (16 average Brix) with pubescent skin like an apricot. This selection has an estimated chilling requirement of 700 to 800 hours. (U.S. Plant Patent #18537)
Honey Rich
An early season Aprium®, Honey Rich fruit resembles an apricot with highly colored bright orange skin and freestone orange flesh. Honey Rich is so named for its rich, intensely sweet flavor. Ripening in late May, this very juicy fruit can be delicate and requires careful handling to avoid bruising. This aprium® has an estimated chilling requirement of 400 hours. The Honey Rich Aprium® requires a pollenizer such as the Bonny or Poppy apricot. (U.S. Plant Patent #10292) (Zaiger)
Late Brittney
Maturing forty days after the Brittany Gold apricot, Late Brittney is an exciting season-extender. This freestone Aprium® exhibits yellow-orange skin over firm, mildly sweet flesh (15.5 average Brix) that ripens in mid-August. Larger and firmer than its apricot parent, Patterson, the Late Brittney Aprium® is uniform in size (95.6 grams average weight) and maturity throughout the tree. This self-fertile selection has an estimated chilling requirement of 800 to 900 hours. (U.S. Plant Patent #18921)
Leah Cot
Maturing in the first two weeks of June, Leah Cot Aprium® resembles an apricot with attractive orange skin. This selection has a winter chilling requirement of approximately 800 hours. Leah Cot requires a pollenizer such as Escort, Amigo 1 or Honey Punch (U.S. Plant Patent #21863)
Tasty Rich
Similar to an apricot in appearance, but more round in shape and lighter yellow-orange color, Tasty Rich is actually an Aprium® interspecific apricot. Not overly large (80 gram average weight), this freestone fruit is firm and meaty with a flavor that is predominately apricot, but suggestive of plum with a pleasant aftertaste. Maturing a full two weeks before Honey Rich in early to mid-May, Tasty Rich requires a pollenizer such as Autumn Sprite or Brittany Gold. This selection has an estimated chilling requirement of 700 hours. (U.S. Plant Patent #12774)
Wescot
Deep orange color is the hallmark of the Wescot Aprium® interspecific apricot. Wescot demonstrated higher colored orange flesh and skin than the Tri-Gems apricot. This freestone fruit ripens in the third week of May with uniform in size and firmness throughout the tree. The large Wescot fruit (115 gram average weight) features firm flesh and a strong flavor (16.1 average Brix). Wescot is somewhat self-fruitful, but sets better with a pollenizer. This selection has an estimated chilling requirement of 650 hours. (U.S. Plant Patent #16597)
