Peach Apricot Queen
Notify MePrunus persica Apricot Queen is a deliciously unique peach variety named for its rich apricot-like flavour and golden-orange skin with a warm red blush. The fruit is medium to large, with juicy, sweet flesh and low acidity, making it ideal for fresh eating or desserts. Flowering in early to mid-spring, this variety ripens in mid to late summer and performs well in warm, sheltered sites.
Perfect for home orchards, edible gardens, or smaller productive plots. Complements cottage, Mediterranean, or modern garden styles.
Plant in a sunny, sheltered position with free-draining, fertile soil. Protect from late frosts during flowering and maintain consistent moisture through fruit development. Allow 3–4 metres between trees for healthy growth and airflow.
Mature size: Grows to approximately 3–4 metres tall with a rounded, moderately spreading canopy.
Trimming: Prune in late summer after harvest to maintain an open, vase-like structure. Remove any dead, diseased, or inward-growing branches. Avoid winter pruning, as peaches are prone to disease—especially bacterial canker—when pruned in cold, damp conditions.
Deadheading: Not applicable for fruit trees.
Fertilising: Feed in early spring with a balanced fertiliser. Switch to a potassium-rich fertiliser as fruit begins to form to support flowering and fruit development. Mulch annually with compost or well-rotted manure, keeping it away from the base of the tree.
Watering: Water regularly during the establishment phase and in dry periods—especially from spring through early summer while fruit is developing. Ensure soil is free-draining to prevent root issues.
Pest Control: Monitor for aphids, leaf curl aphids, and mites. Treat infestations with insecticidal soap or horticultural oil. Net trees if needed to protect fruit from birds.
Disease Management: Susceptible to peach leaf curl and brown rot. Watch for puckered, reddened leaves (leaf curl) and soft, rotting fruit (brown rot). Remove and destroy infected material promptly. Apply a copper-based fungicide in late winter and again in early spring before bud swell to prevent leaf curl. Prune to maintain airflow through the canopy.
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.
