Morden 604 Apricot Seedling (Bundle of 2) | Spring 2027

These are seedlings, so every tree is a little different. What's below describes the parent, Morden 604, and we don't have long-term data from our own seedlings yet.

Overview

These are seedlings of Morden 604, one of the hardiest named apricots there is. Apricots don't come exactly true from seed, so each one is a new tree with Morden 604 as the mother.

Origin and History

Morden 604 was released in 1946 by Agriculture Canada's research station in Morden, Manitoba, from a cross of Scout and McClure. Morden 604 seedlings have been put to use before. An open-pollinated Morden 604 seedling became a parent in the Harrow, Ontario apricot breeding program.

Fruit and Uses

We got our first Morden 604 harvest in Missoula in the summer of 2023. Luke's notes: "Creamy, and very sweet." Agriculture Canada described the fruit as 4 to 5 cm, golden yellow becoming darker and reddish, ripe in early August at Morden and "good for eating and cooking." Seed-grown apricots vary in quality, so your seedlings may be better or worse than the parent.

Growth Habit and Spacing

These are seedlings on their own roots, which makes them full size apricots that can reach 20 to 25 feet unpruned. Plan on about 15 feet between trees, or more if you want less pruning.

Pollination

Morden 604 is self-fertile, and apricots in general are at least partly self-fertile. Since each seedling in the bundle is genetically different, they'll also pollenize each other for better fruit set.

Cold Hardiness

Morden 604's flower buds are hardy to -40F or colder according to Bob Purvis, and Purvis reports it cropping after its buds saw -42F. We list the grafted parent as a zone 2 apricot. Seedlings will vary, and we list these at 2b. Keep in mind that the colder you are, the more apricots are feast or famine on crops, because late spring frosts can take the blossoms.