Apricot Sundrop
Notify MePrunus armeniaca Sundrop is a popular New Zealand apricot variety known for its sweet, tangy flavour and reliable early cropping. The medium to large fruit are golden-orange with smooth, juicy flesh that’s excellent for eating fresh, preserving, or drying. Flowering in early to mid-spring, Sundrop ripens from mid to late summer and is a consistent performer in suitable conditions.
A strong choice for home orchards, edible gardens, and lifestyle blocks. Complements productive, Mediterranean, or traditional garden styles.
Plant in a warm, sunny, and sheltered site with free-draining, fertile soil. Protect flowers from late frosts and water regularly during the fruiting season. Space trees 3–4 metres apart to promote healthy growth and airflow.
Mature size: Grows to around 4–5 metres tall with a broad, rounded canopy.
Trimming: Prune in late summer after harvest to shape the tree and remove any dead, diseased, or overcrowded branches. Avoid winter pruning, as ‘Sundrop’ is susceptible to bacterial canker when pruned in cold, damp conditions.
Deadheading: Not applicable for fruit trees.
Fertilising: Feed in early spring with a balanced fertiliser to support new growth. During fruit development, switch to a potassium-rich fertiliser to encourage flowering and improve fruit size and sweetness. Apply an annual mulch of compost or well-rotted manure, keeping it away from the trunk.
Watering: Water regularly during establishment and throughout dry periods, especially from spring to early summer when fruit is forming. Ensure soil remains moist but well-drained—avoid both drought and waterlogging.
Pest Control: Watch for aphids, leafroller caterpillars, and mites. Treat infestations with insecticidal soap or horticultural oil. Use netting if necessary to protect ripening fruit from birds.
Disease Management: Prone to brown rot and bacterial canker. Look for gumming on branches or soft, rotting spots on fruit. Remove and destroy infected material promptly. Prune only during dry weather to reduce disease risk and maintain good airflow. Apply copper-based spray in late winter as a preventative.
Enjoy complimentary delivery anywhere in mainland New Zealand when you purchase plants worth $250 or more*.
For orders below $250, the following flat-rate delivery charges are applicable:
- Urban delivery within mainland New Zealand: $19.95
- Rural delivery within mainland New Zealand: $39.95
- Waiheke, Chatham and Great Barrier Islands: Please contact us for shipping options.
We aim to have all orders shipped within 14 days from the order date, unless a different shipping date is specified alongside a product.
