Plumcot, Apriplum, Pluot, or Aprium
Encyclopedia
Plumcots, apriplums, pluots, and apriums are some of the hybrids between different Prunus
species that are also called interspecific or IS plums. In the United States
, these fruit are known by most regulatory agencies as interspecific plums. Whereas plumcots and apriplums are first-generation hybrids between a plum parent (P. salicina
or P. cerasifera or their hybrids), and an apricot
(P. armeniaca), pluots and apriums are later-generations. Both names "plumcot" and "apriplum" have been used for trees derived from a plum seed parent, and are therefore equivalent.
.
,
and "Pluot" is a registered trademark of Zaiger's Genetics.
The Pluot was featured on a Andy Rooney segment on 60 Minutes, when Andy comes across the Pluot in a store he says "what's a pluot?"
and three-fourths apricot
. Aprium varieties were developed in the late 1980s by Floyd Zaiger
, and "Aprium" is a registered trademark of Zaiger's Genetics.
Apriums resemble apricots on the outside. The flesh is usually dense. Apriums are noted for their sweet taste, due to their high content of fructose and other complex sugars. Apriums are usually only available early in the fruit season, like apricots and unlike pluots, which include some very late-ripening varieties.
Aprium trees grow quickly and are smaller compared to other common home-grown apricots. The fruit is gold, with red coloration. Semi-mature fruit is hard and does not ripen if picked before completely mature.
Pluot varieties include:
Prunus
Prunus is a genus of trees and shrubs, which includes the plums, cherries, peaches, apricots and almonds. There are around 430 species spread throughout the northern temperate regions of the globe. Many members of the genus are widely cultivated for fruit and ornament.-Botany:Members of the genus...
species that are also called interspecific or IS plums. In the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, these fruit are known by most regulatory agencies as interspecific plums. Whereas plumcots and apriplums are first-generation hybrids between a plum parent (P. salicina
Prunus salicina
Prunus salicina , commonly called the Chinese plum or Japanese plum, is a small deciduous tree native to China...
or P. cerasifera or their hybrids), and an apricot
Apricot
The apricot, Prunus armeniaca, is a species of Prunus, classified with the plum in the subgenus Prunus. The native range is somewhat uncertain due to its extensive prehistoric cultivation.- Description :...
(P. armeniaca), pluots and apriums are later-generations. Both names "plumcot" and "apriplum" have been used for trees derived from a plum seed parent, and are therefore equivalent.
Plumcots/apriums
Natural plumcots/apriums have been known for hundreds of years from regions of the world that grow both plums and apricots from seed. The name plumcot was credited to and named by Luther BurbankLuther Burbank
Luther Burbank was an American botanist, horticulturist and a pioneer in agricultural science.He developed more than 800 strains and varieties of plants over his 54-year career. Burbank's varied creations included fruits, flowers, grains, grasses, and vegetables...
.
Pluots
Pluots (icon) are later-generations that show more plum than apricot characteristics; the fruit's exterior has smooth skin closely resembling that of a plum. Pluots were developed in the late 20th century by Floyd ZaigerFloyd Zaiger
Floyd Zaiger is a biologist who is most noted for his work in fruit genetics, and founded Zaiger's Genetics. He was born in Nebraska and grew up in Iowa. Zaiger has developed both cultivars of existing species and new hybrids such as the pluot and the aprium...
,
and "Pluot" is a registered trademark of Zaiger's Genetics.
The Pluot was featured on a Andy Rooney segment on 60 Minutes, when Andy comes across the Pluot in a store he says "what's a pluot?"
Apriums
Apriums are complex plum-apricot hybrids that show more apricot traits, genetically they are one-fourth plumPlum
A plum or gage is a stone fruit tree in the genus Prunus, subgenus Prunus. The subgenus is distinguished from other subgenera in the shoots having a terminal bud and solitary side buds , the flowers in groups of one to five together on short stems, and the fruit having a groove running down one...
and three-fourths apricot
Apricot
The apricot, Prunus armeniaca, is a species of Prunus, classified with the plum in the subgenus Prunus. The native range is somewhat uncertain due to its extensive prehistoric cultivation.- Description :...
. Aprium varieties were developed in the late 1980s by Floyd Zaiger
Floyd Zaiger
Floyd Zaiger is a biologist who is most noted for his work in fruit genetics, and founded Zaiger's Genetics. He was born in Nebraska and grew up in Iowa. Zaiger has developed both cultivars of existing species and new hybrids such as the pluot and the aprium...
, and "Aprium" is a registered trademark of Zaiger's Genetics.
Apriums resemble apricots on the outside. The flesh is usually dense. Apriums are noted for their sweet taste, due to their high content of fructose and other complex sugars. Apriums are usually only available early in the fruit season, like apricots and unlike pluots, which include some very late-ripening varieties.
Aprium trees grow quickly and are smaller compared to other common home-grown apricots. The fruit is gold, with red coloration. Semi-mature fruit is hard and does not ripen if picked before completely mature.
Plumcot varieties
Plumcot varieties include:- Flavorosa: very sweet , medium-sized, flat round dark-purple fruit with red flesh, early ripening
- Flavor Royal: very sweet, medium-sized, dark purple with crimson flesh, early ripening
- Eagle Egg: very sweet, medium-sized, dark red with crimson flesh, early mid season
- Amigo: rosy plum flavors with a hint of berry, red skin with red bleeding to yellow flesh, early mid season
- Tropical Plumana: sugary tropical punch flavor, medium-sized, red over greenish yellow background with yellow flesh, early mid season
- Crimson Sweet: sweet flavor, medium-sized, crimson skin with pinkish flesh, mid season
- Dapple Jack: medium size with mottled pale green, red-spotted skin, red juicy flesh, late mid season
- Sweet Treat: super sweet with hints of Thompson grape flavor, green, golden skin with yellow juicy flesh, late mid season
- Flavor Queen: medium to large size, very juicy flesh, very sweet, golden yellow when fully ripe, late season
- Dapple Dandy: large size with mottled pale green , red-spotted skin, red or pink juicy flesh, late season, firm fleshed and easily shipped
- Flavor Grenade: large size, oblong shape with red blush on green background, crisp, refreshing pineapple and juicy apple flavor, late season
- Summer Punch: medium to large size, very juicy flesh, very sweet with berry and melon undertones, late season
- Tropical Sunrise: Yellow to orange color skin with red blush and orange flesh, sweet plum and apricot flavors
- Flavor King: fruit punch flavor, medium size, with burgundy skin and red, super sweet, juicy flesh, late season
- King Kong: very large size with black skin, plum-like flavor with hints of almond
- Flavor Fall: large size, average flavor, red skin with yellow flesh, very late season
Pluot varieties
- Dapple Dandy: large size with mottled pale green to yellow, red-spotted skin, red or pink juicy flesh, firm flesh, moderately late ripening.
- 'Dinosaur egg' is a trademarked name for Dapple Dandy variety.
- Early Dapple: good flavor, medium-sized, mottled green over red skin with pink flesh, early ripening
- Emerald Drop: medium to large size, green skin and yellow-orange flesh, moderately late ripening
- Flavor Delight: medium-sized, fuchsia-honey colored skin with pink flesh, early ripening
- Flavor Fall: large size, average flavor, red skin with yellow flesh, late ripening
- Flavor Finale: medium to large size, purple-red skin with amber-red flesh, exceptional complex flavor, late ripening
- Flavor Grenade: large size, oblong shape with red blush on green background, yellow juicy flesh, moderately late ripening
- Flavor Heart: very large, black with a heart shape, and yellow flesh
- Flavor Jewel: sweet flavor, heart shaped, red over yellow skin with yellow flesh
- Flavor King: Fruit punch flavor, medium size, with burgundy skin and red super sweet juicy flesh, moderately late ripening, flesh is hard until fully ripe
- Flavor Prince: large round and purple, with red flesh
- Flavor Penguin: medium size, early ripening grown in a humid climate
- Flavor Queen: medium to large size, very juicy flesh, very sweet, golden yellow when fully ripe, midseason
- Flavor Rich: medium-sweet, large black round fruit with orange flesh
- Flavor Royal: very sweet, medium-sized, dark purple with crimson flesh, very early ripening
- Flavor Supreme: medium or large, greenish purple skin, juicy red flesh
- Flavorich: large size, dark purple skin and firm, sweet, yellow-orange flesh, moderately late ripening
- Flavorosa: very sweet, medium-sized, flat, round, dark-purple fruit with red flesh, very early ripening
- Geo Pride: medium size, red-skin and yellow flesh, balanced acid-sugar, predominately sweet with unique plum/apricot flavor, moderately late ripening
- Raspberry Jewel: medium, dark red skin, brilliant red, honey-sweet flesh
- Red Ray: medium, bright red with dense, sweet orange flesh
- Splash: small to medium red-orange fruit, with very sweet orange flesh, midseason
Aprium varieties
Aprium varieties include:- Cot-N-Candy : harvests in early to mid June, flesh is extra sweet and juicy, with a plumy aftertaste, size is 2.0 to 2.5 inches in radius on average, self-fruitful
- Flavor Delight : resembles an apricot, but with a distinctive flavor and texture all its own, pleasant, lingering aftertaste, bigger crops if pollenized by any apricot