Prunus armeniaca ‘Pêche de Nancy’ – Apricot ‘Pêche de Nancy’
The Apricot ‘Pêche de Nancy’ (Prunus armeniaca ‘Pêche de Nancy’) is an old French apricot variety, renowned for its juicy and fragrant fruits with sweet and melting flesh.
Origins and characteristics
The ‘Pêche de Nancy’ variety originates from Lorraine, specifically the Nancy region, where it has been cultivated since the 19th century. Selected for its frost resistance, taste quality, and productivity, it is well adapted to temperate to continental climates, where other apricot trees are sometimes sensitive to late frosts.
Like all apricot trees, it belongs to the Rosaceae family and produces fruits very rich in vitamin A and beta-carotene.
Description and particularities
The ‘Pêche de Nancy’ apricot tree forms a medium-sized fruit tree with a slightly spreading habit. It blooms later than other varieties, which helps avoid spring frosts. The fruits are of good size, with velvety skin, orange-yellow marbled with red, and firm, sweet, and very fragrant flesh.
- Adult height: 3 to 5 m
- Width: 3 to 4 m
- Habit: Rounded to slightly spreading
- Foliage: Deciduous, bright green, serrated
- Grafted on: Saint Julien A (low trunk)
Characteristics
- Type: Stone fruit tree
- Hardiness: Good (down to -20 °C)
- Flowering: Late – late March to early April
- Self-fertile: Yes, but better production with another variety nearby
- Fruiting: Late July to early August
- Lifespan: 20 to 30 years depending on management
Flowering and fruiting
- Flowers: White to pinkish, solitary or grouped
- Pollination: Entomophilous (bees, insects)
- Fruits: Large apricots, velvety orange-yellow skin with red highlights in the sun
- Flesh: Orange-yellow, melting, very sweet, slightly acidic
- Uses: Fresh fruits, jams, pastries, compotes, dried fruits
Exposure and soil
- Exposure: Full sun, warm and sheltered from the wind
- Soil: Light, deep, well-drained, slightly calcareous to neutral
- Avoids stagnant moisture and heavy soils
Planting
Preferably done in autumn or spring, outside of frost periods.
- Planting distance: 3 to 4 m between each tree
- Add well-matured compost in the planting hole
- Mulching at the base recommended
Watering
- Regular during the first year (especially in dry periods)
- Then only in case of prolonged drought
- In summer, deep watering during fruiting can improve fruit quality
Pruning
- Training pruning during the first years to shape the tree
- Then light pruning each late winter (February-March) to aerate the branches
- Remove dead wood, crossing branches, and suckers
- Avoid heavy cuts: slow healing in apricot trees
Garden use
Perfect for:
- Family orchard
- Small fruit garden
- Isolated culture (self-fertile) or paired with a complementary variety (e.g., ‘Polonais’, ‘Luizet’)
- Espalier against a south-facing wall
Disease protection
- Sensitive to monilinia (fruit rot): monitor and prune to improve aeration
- Prevention: Bordeaux mixture spray at leaf fall and bud break
- Avoid excessive watering and pruning in wet periods
- Mulching advised to limit soil splashes
Tips for optimal production
- Choose a warm and well-sunny exposure
- Ensure good soil drainage to avoid stagnant moisture
- Add mature compost or organic fertilizer in spring
- Thin fruits by removing some if the load is too heavy
- Plant near a south-facing wall or sheltered area to favour ripening
The Prunus armeniaca ‘Pêche de Nancy’ is an old, tasty, and reliable variety perfectly suited to cooler climates or late bloomers. Its robustness, elegant flowering, and generous fruiting make it an ornamental and nourishing tree, ideal for the amateur gardener seeking fruit autonomy and authentic flavours.
Available in taller size and 10-litre pot, only for pickup at the nursery (Click and Collect)
As soon as you place your order your plants are selected
Each order is processed individually.
Plants are packed, staked and labeled.
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