Black apricot, Purple apricot
Armeniaca dasycarpa

Family: Rosaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows 4-7 m tall. There are many branches that are thin and purplish red. The leaves are oval and 4-7 cm long by 3-5 cm wide. The plum like fruit are purple-black in colour. They have soft, juicy, slightly acid flesh. They are 3 cm across. Usually the seeds are bitter but are occasionally sweet.

There are about 200 Prunus species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant.

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Asia, China, Europe, France, India, Iran, Middle East, North America, Pakistan, Russia, Ukraine, USA

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten fresh. They can be used for marmalade. They are also used as a spice or flavouring. The seeds can be bitter but sweet kinds are eaten.

It is a cultivated food plant unknown in the wild.

Edible parts

Fruit, seeds

How it is grown

In western China plants flower in April to May and fruit June to July.

Its other names

Local names

Susincocco, Zi xing

Synonyms

Armeniaca atropurpurea Loiseleur-Deslongchamps; Armeniaca dasycarpa (Ehrhart) Persoon; Armeniaca fusca Turpin & Poiteau; Prunus armeniacea L. var. dasycarpa (Ehrhart) K. Koch; Probably Prunus vulgarus x Prunus cerasifera; Prunus dasycarpa Ehrart;