Does anyone grow black apricots?

[Moon]

To clarify, the pictures are not mine.

[Orange120OD]

I’ve had a Tlor-Tsiran Apricot for several years now. Never got any fruit from it yet as it’s my first tree to bloom every year. Usually right before our last hard frost.

[Richard]

1 spot left for a tree

Hi Jakob, I am living around the corner in northern germany (7a/b). I am growing 2 jujubes, sold as li and lang, though I now suspect em to be just seedlings. If there is no dieback in winter, they do flower but in 10 years never set a single fruit. Dont know if varieties would be different. The black apricots I grow are Vesuviano, Nostrano, Gigante di Budrio and Bolognese. In taste they resemble more a plum than an apricot. They produce more reliably than apricots. If you like sour cherries …

[mrsg47]

They look more like plums.

[Moon]

Yes, it is, but it’s actually an apricot-cherry hybrid. Dark hybrid varieties have emerged as a result of cross-pollination between apricot trees and cherries growing nearby. These trees bear dark purple or deep purple fruits and lack the velvety characteristics of the common apricot.

The most popular black apricot varieties are:

Black Prince

Black Velvet

Melitopol

Korenevsky

Mouse

Lugansky

Gardeners almost unanimously agree that fresh, ripe black apricots are superior to classic varieties in taste and aroma, but they are noticeably superior when canned.

[nosummer]

I see melitopolsky cherny for sale sometimes. But we get late frosts so apricots are out. Do these hybrids flower later?

[xendula]

Do they taste like actual apricots, or like something else with apricot flavor mixed in?
Asking because apricots are some of my favorite tree fruit. I’ve never tried hybrids like plumcots of apriums, so haven’t planted any, because, in my mind, what could be a better apricot than a n 100% apricot?

[Richard]

@Moon

Gardeners almost unanimously agree that fresh, ripe black apricots are superior to classic varieties in taste and aroma

So you are promoting purchases rather than inquiring for your own use?

@Moon

have emerged as a result of cross-pollination between apricot trees and cherries growing nearby

Actually they are purposely bred, for example at the Nikita research station.

[randyks]

Moon, those black apricot cultivars are actually apricot and cherry-plum hybrids, no true cherry involved.
Most I have had actually did have slight pubescence on the skin.
Possibly first originated in ancient Armenia area?

[jrd51]

<< Doe anyone grow black apricots? >>

Lol, given the fungus here my answer is “Yes, but not intentionally!”

[downhome]

We had a Tlor-Tsiran tree from Raintree for about ten years, it flowered but never set a single fruit. Finally removed it when doing some new construction. Supposedly self pollinating, but no luck here (SW Wisconsin). Seemed to be plenty hardy. Early blooming, but no more than other apricots (around the time of wild plums most years).