Morden 604 Apricot

Overview

Morden 604 is one of the earliest and most notable improved, ultra-hardy apricot varieties developed for the prairies. It was released in 1946 by the Agriculture Canada research facility in Morden, Manitoba, and represents a major milestone in cold-climate fruit breeding.

Breeding Background

Morden 604 is a cross between:

‘Scout’ – a seedling of Manchurian apricot

‘McClure’ – another hardy cultivar with proven resilience

We received our first harvest in Summer 2023 in Missoula, and the flavor did not disappoint.

Luke’s tasting notes:
“Creamy, and very sweet. It’s too bad we only got a few this first year. Looking forward to more.”

Fruit & Flavor Profile

Flavor: Creamy, sweet, and pleasant

Size: Large fruit, averaging 4.5 cm (1¾")

Color: Classic apricot tones

Exceptional Cold Hardiness

Morden 604 is one of the most cold-hardy apricots available, with buds capable of withstanding -40°F or colder. It rivals (and possibly exceeds) the hardiness of other known cold-climate champions:

Debbie’s Gold: -41°F

Brookcot: -48°F

Westcot: -48°F near Bemidji, MN

Sunrise: -50°F+

We comfortably list this as a Zone 2 apricot, although it can be feast or famine the colder you are in terms of reliably getting a crop due to the blossoms getting damaged from late Spring frosts.

Tree Size & Rootstock

Grafted onto: Full-size, cold-hardy Manchurian apricot rootstock

Mature height: Up to 25 feet if left unpruned

Sizes available: Varies by inventory (see size options when ordering)