Apricot Pollination Map

Apricots bloom earlier than any other fruit tree we sell except almonds, so a late frost is usually a bigger worry than pollination. Many apricots are self-fertile, but Goldrich, Perfection, Harlayne and Sungold need a partner.

Some need a partner

Goldrich, Perfection, Harlayne and Sungold won't set a crop alone. Plant a different apricot in the same or next bloom group.

Goldrich and Perfection don't match

They bloom together, but Utah State University and Van Well Nursery both say Perfection won't pollenize Goldrich. Give each one a different partner.

Two is still good insurance

Even self-fertile apricots can have a thin set in a cold spring when bees barely fly. A second variety nearby doesn't hurt.

Late bloomers dodge frost

Zard and Wayne are the latest bloomers we carry, with Dr 606 and Precious close behind, based on Bob Purvis's bloom notes.

Find a partner for your tree

Pick a variety you have or want. You'll see every tree we carry that will pollenize it, with what's in stock first.

The apricot pollination map

Find the tree you want fruit on in the left column, then read across. Each column is a pollen source.

Good match (same bloom group)Partial match (one group apart)Bloom too far apartPoor pollen (triploid, pollen-sterile or disputed)Won't work (same clone or incompatible)Same variety
Sort:

* bloom group is our best estimate.

Bloom groups at a glance

2 Early

3 Early-Mid

4 Mid

5 Mid-Late

6 Late

7 Very Late

How to read these maps

Bloom groups

Every variety gets a bloom group from 1 (very early) to 7 (very late). Groups only compare varieties of the same fruit. An apple in group 4 and a plum in group 4 don't bloom at the same time.

Close enough counts

Two varieties in the same group or one group apart overlap enough to pollenize each other, as long as the pollen is good and they aren't the same tree genetically.

Where the groups come from

Published bloom records come first. For apples that's measured bloom dates from the Apple Biodiversity Collection in Nova Scotia, checked against multi-year nursery and extension groupings. Next comes sourced facts, like a sport blooming with its parent. Anything marked * is our best estimate from the variety's origin and relatives.

Your spring will vary

A warm or cold spring shifts every tree earlier or later, but the order stays about the same. If you watch your trees bloom and something doesn't match, tell us. Your notes make these maps better.

More pollination maps