Aprium: Planting, Pruning, Harvest

Description and botany

The aprium, or Prunus x Aprium is a fruit bush belonging to the Prunus genus and the Rosaceae family, like the apricot, almond and peach trees. It is a species resulting from hybridization between the apricot tree and the Pluot or plumcot (a cross between a plum and an apricot). It contains 75% of the plum tree’s genome (Prunus domestica) and 25% of the apricot tree (Prunus armeniaca). Like the Pluot, its hybridization was developed in the late 1980s in California by Chris Floyd Zaiger, a breeder and developer of stone fruit hybrids. The aprium, like its parent the pluot, is a registered trademark of Zaiger’s Genetics. Several generations of cross-breeding were required to create this new fruit. Today, many varieties of aprium with varying precocity have been developed.

The aprium forms a spreading tree reaching 4 to 5 m in height at maturity, which is smaller than an apricot tree. It spreads naturally over time. The branches bear deciduous foliage. The alternate, rounded green leaves, measuring 6 to 15 cm long, appear in spring. Attached by a long petiole, they are shiny, irregularly dentate on the margins and veined.

The aprium flowers in March-April, at the beginning of spring, usually before the leaves. It is one of the first flowerings of the year, along with apricot and almond trees. Numerous small, typical Rosaceae flowers, white-pink in colour, appear solitary at the tips of the year’s shoots. They open in the form of cups composed of 5 pedunculate petals surrounded by sepals. Melliferous and nectariferous, they are pollinated by foraging insects.

Most aprium varieties are self-fertile and do not require the presence of an apricot tree nearby to ensure good fruiting. It takes around 3 to 4 years before the first harvest. The flowers are followed by the formation of fruit. Large, rounded fruits around 6 cm in diameter, with velvety skin, appear from June. Their epidermis is a beautiful orange dusted with red, slightly velvety. Their colour, the typical small fold running along their epidermis and their shape are reminiscent of the apricot. They contain sweet, very fragrant white flesh, with a tangy flavour similar to that of apricot with notes of raspberry, plum and orange. These fleshy fruits weigh around 75 to 85g and are slightly less juicy than apricots.

Aprium fruit

Main varieties

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Planting the aprium

Where to Plant It?

Very hardy, able to withstand temperatures down to -20°C, the aprium can adapt to all regions of France provided it is planted in a sunny spot sheltered from northern and eastern winds, which may damage the flowering. Like those of the apricot tree, its flowers are sensitive to spring frosts.

In northern France, plant it against a south-facing wall to protect the tree from the cold.

Like many fruit trees, it thrives in full sun in any light, deep, well-drained soil, even stony or slightly chalky. Adaptable, it tolerates many soil types except waterlogged ones, which encourage disease.

It naturally fits into an orchard but also works as a standalone ornamental plant in a short grass meadow or at the back of a flowerbed, as its spring flowering is enchanting. It can be grown in open forms (standard, half-standard, goblet). While most varieties are self-fertile, they will fruit better with an apricot tree planted nearby.

When to Plant It?

The aprium is best planted from October to November, avoiding frost, or alternatively in spring with regular watering to ensure establishment.

How to Plant It?

If planting multiple specimens, space them at least 5–6 m apart. If your soil is too compact and heavy, improve drainage (with gravel, sand, or compost).

• For bare-root plants, soak the roots for a day in rooting slurry
• Loosen the soil deeply
• Remove stones and weeds
• Dig a hole two to three times wider and deeper than the rootball
• Add a layer of drainage at the base (especially in heavy soil)
• Mix in well-rotted compost at the bottom of the hole
• Place the rootball and backfill with garden soil, gently firming to remove air pockets
• Create a watering basin around the base and water thoroughly and regularly to encourage rooting

Maintenance and Pruning of the Aprium

For the first two years after planting, ensure regular watering, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings. After that, it will require minimal attention, and you’ll only need to water during periods of intense heat.

In early spring, apply well-rotted compost by lightly scratching it into the surface or use a fruit tree fertiliser.

In winter, you can also add a shovel of wood ash, rich in potash, to improve fruiting.

When and how to prune the Aprium?

Pruning the Aprium helps maintain good fruiting. Use a sharp and thoroughly cleaned pruning shear, and coat the cuts with pruning sealant to prevent disease.

Training Pruning

During the first three years, prune with pruning shears to remove dead or crossing branches, keeping only 5 well-spaced main branches.

→ Related reading: “How to Train a Fruit Tree into a Goblet Shape?”

Maintenance Pruning

Each year, in autumn or late winter, remove suckers by cutting them close to the main branch and lightly trim the tips of the shoots. Eliminate dead wood, damaged or broken branches, and any crossing branches to thin out the branches.

Fruit Thinning

In early June, when the fruits begin to form: remove some, keeping only the largest ones. Thinning helps produce larger fruits—you can repeat this process 2 or 3 times.

Diseases and potential pests

The Aprium can be susceptible to various diseases. Against fungal diseases (powdery mildew, brown rot) which cause a white coating on the leaves or the withering of flowers and fruit rot on the tree, treat the tree preventatively in spring with sprays of Bordeaux mixture.

Against rust which causes yellow and brown spots on the top and underside of leaves, spray a horsetail decoction or Bordeaux mixture.

Propagation

The Aprium is propagated by grafting. An apricot tree is typically used as the rootstock. This is a technique that requires some expertise, so we recommend reserving it for professional gardeners.

When and how to harvest apriums?

The aprium fruits 3 to 4 years after planting. The harvest spreads from late June to August, depending on the regions and varieties. Simply pick the fruits by hand when they reach ripeness, well-oranged and tender to the touch. You can pick them just before they fully ripen, as they will continue to mature after harvest.

Preservation and Uses

Apriums can be kept for up to five days at room temperature. Once washed, dried and stoned, they can be frozen.

They are eaten like apricots: fresh, dried or prepared in desserts, fruit salads, jams, juices, ice creams or as an accompaniment to savoury dishes.

They are rich in fibre, antioxidants, carotin, vitamins A and C, and trace elements.