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This item is a Stark Pick!
Stark® SweetHeart™ Apricot
Stark® SweetHeart™ Apricot
Stark® SweetHeart™ Apricot

Stark® SweetHeart™ Apricot

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Description

A Stark Bro's Exclusive!Easy to Grow! A Stark Pick

Enjoy fruits and nuts from the same tree! This variety produces big, luscious apricots with a second treat of tasty almond-like kernels inside the pit. Fruit flesh is firm, yet juicy with a sprightly flavor. The “nuts” can be eaten dried or used in any recipe calling for almonds. Easy to grow and maintain! Blooms late to avoid spring frosts and has an extended bloom period. Discovered in Homedale, Idaho in 1970. Freestone. Ripens in mid July. Self-pollinating.

Do not mix your Stark® SweetHeart™ kernels with the kernels of other apricots or peaches; almost all others are not edible.

Characteristics

Bloom Color Pink
Fruit Color Orange
Fruit Size Medium - Large
Pollination Self-pollinating
Ripens/Harvest Mid July
Shade/Sun Full Sun
Soil Composition Loamy
Soil Moisture Well Drained
Soil pH Level 6.0 - 7.0
Taste Spritely Sweet
Texture Firm, Juicy
Years to Bear 2 - 5
Zone Range 5 - 8

Zone Compatibility

This Variety's Zone Range 5 - 8
My Hardiness Zone ?
The USDA hardiness zones offer a guide to varieties that will grow well in certain climates. Each zone corresponds to the minimum winter temperatures experienced in a given area. Make sure that your hardiness zone lies within the zone compatability range of this variety before ordering.

Pollination

This variety is self pollinating.

In many cases, you may still want to plant pollinating partners to increase the size of your crops, but with self-pollinating varieties doing so is optional. You'll get fruit with only one plant!

Tools & Supplies

Having the proper tools and supplies when growing your own can make the difference between a good harvest and a great harvest! Here's a list that our experts recommend for this variety.

Tags

We've 'tagged' this item with specific keywords that help you find other products that share features or characteristics with this one. Select a tag below to view all the items that have that particular trait.

Questions & Answers

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Browse 26 questions Browse 26 questions and 87 answers
Why did you choose this?
Stark Bro's Store
THE ONLY APRICOT TREE AVAILABLE.
Daniel P on Oct 4, 2019
Hoping for a good addition to our new orchard. Based on customer reviews this and the Stark Brothers guarantee, I am hoping for a good producer for many years.
MARIALENA M on Mar 10, 2019
THE ONLY APRICOT TREE AVAILABLE.
Daniel P on Oct 4, 2019
I love the Stark Saturn peach and the Royal Blenheim apricot was not available so I'm taking a chance.
Michael H on Sep 8, 2019
Hoping for a good addition to our new orchard. Based on customer reviews this and the Stark Brothers guarantee, I am hoping for a good producer for many years.
MARIALENA M on Mar 10, 2019
Late bloomer, to get past late freeze
Rex H on Mar 8, 2019
Have been trying to get almonds to grow in our area, but to no success. Decided to try sweet pit apricots as an alternative. Also, the family loves apricot jam!
DOUG VALERIE K on Mar 8, 2019
This seemed like a good all around apricot for us. We have been looking for apricot trees in our area and no one seems to sell them.
Linda P on Mar 3, 2019
Love apricots
pawpa on Mar 3, 2019
I think my grandkids will be excited that they can eat the seed in the middle!
Tina C on Jan 27, 2019
Space consideration and reviews
Jackie G on Jan 24, 2019
Edible pits ?! Gotta try this !!
MARY B on Jan 18, 2019
Looking for an apricot with a late or long bloom time because of our late frosts. And bonus ???almonds???!
Marleigh M on Jan 11, 2019
Self pollination and edible seeds
Blake H on Nov 27, 2018
I love apricots and being able to eat the inside is great
Shelly I on Nov 8, 2018
I live in North Idaho and this tree originally is from Idaho so I thought I would try it.
MIKE S on Oct 27, 2018
comments and reviews from 55 other customers all positive
Patricia G on Oct 24, 2018
I read the reviews
ELizabeth M on Oct 21, 2018
Self pollinating
Charlotte J on Oct 18, 2018
i like apricot and this one is self pollinating - handy
Tauna P on Oct 9, 2018
The edible pit in addition to the fruit makes it a dual-crop tree.
Paula M on May 7, 2018
Been craving good homegrown apricots since my great grandmother has a few trees in her yard... oh the memories
Robin d on Apr 29, 2018
I like that the pits are edible. I will probably run most of the fruit through my dehydrator.
Cynthia O on Apr 20, 2018
I like being able to eat the pits. Planted two trees on another property 15 years ago and they are still doing well.
DAVID W on Feb 21, 2018
I've grown this SweetHeart apricot in zone 6 for over 20 years and it's been a consistent fruit bearing variety. I haven't had much luck with other apricot varieties, probably due to our late spring frost occurrences in North Idaho.
Steve D on Nov 13, 2017
I wanted a great small tree for a small, homestead orchard. I love the "multi-tasking" this tree does!
Carrie S on Aug 24, 2017
Customer recommended, right for my area. Have had great results with Stark products
Don on Jun 12, 2017
Easy to grow, healthy and sweet!
James P on May 26, 2017
In addition to looking for a dwarf apricot this one also had an extra bonus. The pits can be used in place of almonds which gives me two trees for the price of one and doesn't take up the space as most nut trees will.
Julia H on Apr 11, 2017
For the seed or nut you can eat.
JAMES G on Apr 6, 2017
I chose this Apricot because I wanted a tree that had great tasting apricots and could be alone since it is going in a smaller side yard.
David N on Mar 28, 2017
Back in the days me and my husband used to go to the Greek islands for vacation with our kids and that was the only time I would be able to eat Apricots fresh from the trees and the kids loved them too. I am creating the garden of my dreams here in Texas :)
Maria F on Mar 25, 2017
Widening my fruit selection, My wife want fresh organic Apricots
CHRISTOPHER C on Mar 20, 2017
My husband is an apricot fanatic and I bought it as a gift for him. The tree is doing well. W are still waiting for fruit.
ANNAMAY S on Mar 18, 2017
I love the idea of nuts and apricots. My favorites. I grow All-in-One almond here in NC, but most years the flowers just bloom too early for our frosts. Apricots are later than almonds, so this should crop much more often than true almonds.
Bob k on Mar 14, 2017
Grew this at last house, and tasted great. Almonds and apricots. Yum
Rolf G on Mar 6, 2017
Recommended by a neighbor who I trust as a gardner
William S on Feb 24, 2017
I wanted apricot and the nut inside was a bonus. Also this tree had a colder zone rating than the other apricots I had looked at purchasing.
kevin h on Feb 12, 2017
Easy to grow
Jennifer P on Feb 6, 2017
Ordered dwarf tree to grow in a large pot
barbara a on Feb 2, 2017
Replacing one I had 15 years ago.
RANDALL C on Jan 26, 2017
You can eat pit too no waste!
KELLEY W on Jan 26, 2017
I chose this because the idea of these apricots having edible nuts inside is too cool!
Casey K on Jan 17, 2017
Had the tree before and the fruit was delicious. It had to be cut down because of the location.
Clyde A on Nov 25, 2016
Doing great with minimal human intervention.
Michele S on Oct 22, 2016
We've moved and left our wonderful Sweetheart Apricot to new owners in Arizona,
I can only hope it survives and produces as well in our new (hotter) area.
Noel P on Sep 18, 2016
Because of the fruit and nut, self-pollination, worked in our zone and was a dwarf tree.
Paula C on Aug 24, 2016
Memories of a neighbor's apricot tree. I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed apricots. This tree is still small, but survived our northern Michigan winter and is full of foliage. Looking forward to future fruit.
GINI C on Jun 10, 2016
We love the idea of the edible pit. The plant arrived in good condition, exactly how it was advertised. It survived the first winter without a problem, and there is new growth popping out already. It will take a couple years for it to bear fruit, so we are patiently waiting ...
CATHERINE M on Mar 9, 2016
the nut/kernel being edible also.
Orville G on Feb 28, 2016
father had an apricot
Gary C on Feb 27, 2016
I love the Stark Saturn peach and the Royal Blenheim apricot was not available so I'm taking a chance.
Michael H on Sep 8, 2019
Late bloomer, to get past late freeze
Rex H on Mar 8, 2019
Do the kernals contain any form of poison? I have read that all apricot pits have very small amounts.
Derrick M on Nov 20, 2016
BEST ANSWER: SweetHeart apricots are quite different than many other varieties. You can eat the delicious kernels of SweetHeart with no worries; they do not contain toxic elements.
Has anyone canned the sweetheart apricots? Does the skin get tough? How about freezing them? My goal is to eat some and can or freeze some for winter. Canning would be better for storage purposes as I also have several other fruit trees and bushes. Thanks in advance.
Jenn M on Mar 26, 2017
BEST ANSWER: I can't answer this question specifically, but in my experience with fruit, canning saves the flavor, a little more work than freezing, but a better flavor and no freezer burn taste.
My favorite apricots are California style, Blenheim or Royal. What style of apricot fruit is this one ... is it bland, sweet, or does it pack a lot of flavor like Blenheim or Royal ?
LarryC on Aug 27, 2016
BEST ANSWER: There are among the best-tasting apricots out there - rich and intense, with a little tang. They make exquisite jam.

If you grow them, be sure to net the tree, even when the fruit is green. As one farmer noted, "The squirrels know, without reading the Stark Bro's catalog, that there are nuts inside there." It's worth the effort if you're a fan of good apricots, pus there's the bonus of the "almond" inside!
We live in central Iowa, zone 5. Anyone have good luck with this tree from Iowa?
nrandall on May 31, 2017
BEST ANSWER: We are zone 6 (northeast WA) with severe winters--typically 3 feet of snow is on the ground from November until March/April where our SweetHeart is planted. Had the tree thru one winter and it is now beginning to sprout leaves. If you mulch heavy (we use 4"-6" loose straw) in late fall, your tree should survive a harsh winter. Use fruit tree specific fertilizer in spring to help "wake up" your tree from its winter dormancy.
I have a nearby black walnut, about 40 ft. Are apricot trees susceptible to juglone, which is in black walnut trees?
GregC on Dec 23, 2016
BEST ANSWER: Apricots are of the Prunus genus (stone fruits), and according to the Penn State Extension Service, they are tolerate of juglone, along with other fruits in the Prunus genus.
I live on the eastern edge of central Alabama, and I would like to make sure we get enough chilling hours for the sweetheart apricots?
Paul A on Dec 11, 2016
BEST ANSWER: This apricot tree performs well in areas with around 700 chill hours.
I live in southern Ohio where it is hot and humid, how is the disease resistance of this apricot?
Kelsey M on Nov 10, 2016
BEST ANSWER: This variety has good general disease resistance, to mean it is not known to be highly susceptible to disease, but still you may want to keep a fungicide on hand to control things like brown rot in areas with cool, wet springs and high humidity during the growing season.
Can they be espaliered?
Cindy Ry R on Jul 25, 2019
BEST ANSWER: That???s exactly how I???m growing them. It???s too early to tell you success or failure but I have purchased apples, pears, plums, peaches, cherries etc. for espalier. My apricots are not fruiting yet. Depending on the fruit yield they may not be able to be maintained strictly horizontal in which case I will ???fan??? the branches and add additional vertical support if necessary. If that is out of the question for you and you require strictly horizontal, apricot may not be the best choice for espalier.
I live by the Long Island sound and the soil is sandy and probably has some salt. Will the apricot do well here?
Anjali L on May 7, 2017
BEST ANSWER: I would check the pH of your soil as apricots do best in neutral to slightly acidic soil. I have fairly rocky soil, so not everything grows well, but have had good luck with apricots as they seems to not need much in terms of fertilizer and are pretty drought tolerant
How big are the leaves on your Sweetheart Apricot tree? My new tree has 70+ leaves but they are half inch to 1 inch long. Is that how yours started?
LorraineE on Jun 7, 2018
BEST ANSWER: The size of leaves on my Sweetheart Apricot tree are small like you describe, and the new leaves have an attractive reddish tinge to them. I haven't seen any blossoms yet, but the tree is looking vigorous and full this year, so I'm hoping to see some blossoms and fruit next year.
I live in zone 8b (used to be zone 8 before USDA redid the zoning) in northeast Texas. We average approximately 950 chill hours, but summers are very hot and humid. Will this tree do well here? Anyone else in an area like mine tried this tree?
Kate R on Mar 22, 2018
BEST ANSWER: I live in high desert under similar conditions
My apricot tree is thriving very well. I am North of Phoenix . 80 miles
What are the blossoms like? I have a Halls Hardy Almond and the blossoms are beautiful. Is this similar?
SammyR on May 7, 2017
BEST ANSWER: I have yet to get any blossoms on the tree yet but I am very happy with the tree. I planted it a year ago in western Kansas and it has done very well, exceeding my expectations. I have not lost a tree yet from stark brothers! I have other apricot trees and the blooms are white and very similar to that of the almond. Hope this helps you out and good luck with you trees! David
the sweetheart apricot tree I bought two years ago is doing very well. I had blooms this spring but I think too early and has grown quite tall. Should I trim it back this fall, we are have near freezing temps at nite now. And should I wrap it as I live in 7/7a zone? Thank you
JULIA H on Nov 4, 2019
BEST ANSWER: Hi Julia - We appreciate you reaching out to us. Pruning is very important and should be done yearly after your tree has gone dormant. Check out our article on preparing your trees for winter. Copy and Paste "Winter Protection for Fruit Trees" in the search bar.

If you have any further questions please don't hesitate to reach back out to us. Have a great day!
How long take this plant to give fruit?
pedro m on Sep 10, 2019
BEST ANSWER: You can find the years-to-bear information in the Characteristics section, near the top of the page, underneath the description. This tree takes 2-5 years to bear.
I am looking for a small fruit tree in a pot that can be planted outside or be taken in and out. Is the apricot dwarf tree in a pot? Is it just the root or a growing tree?
Michelle F on Jan 1, 2019
BEST ANSWER: Hi, Michelle. You can easily grow any dwarf fruit tree in a pot. This tree comes potted (you will need to re-pot in a large container) or you can buy it bare-root and plant it in the ground or in a container. The bare-root tree is dormant; the potted tree is also dormant. The only kind of fruit trees we have that don't need to go dormant over the winter are our citrus trees. You can take them outside for the summer and bring them in near a sunny window for the winter. All other containered fruit trees need to be kept in an unheated garage or shed for the winter so they can go dormant and complete the fruiting cycle.
Can you plant these fruit trees now? Area 5-8. Isn't it to cold? November 7?
Karen B on Nov 7, 2018
BEST ANSWER: Thank you for your question. Because weather and soil conditions vary so much from year to year and even within your zone, it's best to think of your planting time as a range of favorable conditions instead of an exact time.

You can plant new plants and trees: 1) when the ground is not frozen, 2) when daytime temperatures are above freezing (32??F) and below 90??F, and 3) when extreme weather (blizzard, hail, torrential rain, etc.) is not in the forecast. Be sure to keep plants watered if you're transplanting in warm and/or dry weather.
new home, clay soil
I have never gardened before. Will this survive in clay? If I amend the soil how far out do I need to do it?
It would be great if you had a category to list plants by soil type.
I know not much likes clay...
be h on Oct 8, 2018
BEST ANSWER: There really isn't any fruit tree that actually thrives in clay, which is why we don't list them by soil type. Most all fruit trees like loamy soil. The hole you dig should be twice as deep and twice as wide as the tree roots. Generally speaking a 3'x3' hole will do the trick. Amending with coir is a great way to break up clay soil: //www.starkbros.com/products/tools-and-supplies/soil-additives/coco-fiber-planting-medium
How big is the tree you ship?
Suzna B on Oct 1, 2018
BEST ANSWER: That will depend upon which option you choose. Please see the "Choose an option" dropdown menu near the top of the page, which will show you the various sizes/options that are available.
So how do I know when they are ripe? Should they soften a little or just by the color?
tim f on Aug 4, 2018
BEST ANSWER: You will know when to pick apricots visually once the fruits change from green to yellowish-orange in color and feel slightly softened, but still firm to the touch.
What is a good pollination partner for the Sweetheart apricot?
Farokh D on Jun 18, 2018
BEST ANSWER: Goldcot and Wilson are not only good pollinators, but great apricots in their own right.
How extensive is the root system? I wanted to plant one 5-6 ft away from my house.
Kendra K on May 22, 2018
BEST ANSWER: Only if you choose the dwarf size. That would be far too close for a standard-size tree.
All the leaves are off my apricot tree?
denise g on Mar 6, 2018
BEST ANSWER: The tree is probably still dormant. Apricots are among the earliest blooming trees, however. Try the scratch test and see if the tree is still alive, and if not, please contact us and we'll send you a replacement.
Can pits be eaten raw/plain or do they need to be cooked?
Jessi on Feb 22, 2018
BEST ANSWER: The pits can be eaten raw or slow dried after extracting them from the pit. The lower the heat, the lower the heat the better because any processing to nuts subtracts some nutrients. You should let them air dry in the pits for at least a week to help extract them.Air drying for either process is fine. Just don't over heat them. If your air drying, make sure you spread them out so they are not touching such as on a table.
Enjoy
What is the "chill hours" required ?
Helen M on Jan 29, 2018
BEST ANSWER: Chill hours are between 700-1000 for this variety.
Can I keep my Apricot tree inside in a pot until it is warm enough to plant outside? I want to purchase one for a Christmas gift.
Sarah B on Dec 9, 2016
BEST ANSWER: Thank you for your question! Sure you can. You will need to "pot up" to a larger pot than the container in which it arrives, or it may become rootbound. It might be helpful to read this article about growing fruit trees in containers, even if it's just over the winter: //www.starkbros.com/growing-guide/article/fruit-trees-in-containers-pt1

Customer Reviews

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4.6 / 5.0
64 Reviews
5 Stars
4 Stars
3 Stars
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1 Star
47
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5
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Stark SweetHeart Apricot
A winner for sure. This is our second tree. The first tree we bought 40 years ago is still bearing, and 10 years ago it produced 6,000 apricots, with corresponding edible pits.
June 1, 2016
Purchased
 over 4 years ago
Honestly... this is a great tree....
So, here is a reason to buy this. Last year, I planted it in a spot that ended up having less light than I expected. This year I had to move it and I was very afraid I would kill it because the roots were well spread through the ground. I moved it, and it is doing very well. I had heard that moving dwarf trees killed them, but this apricot is such a champ, it just loves the new spot!
May 18, 2016
Purchased
 over 4 years ago
Quality tree
I purchased this variety to grow in northern Utah in a shady area to bloom later spring. The tree was planted fall 2014 & has grown to about six feet tall. It has about 20 apricots on it in the early stages of growth. By next year it will be ready to produce a decent crop. The tree arrived in good condition & has grown fast. Would upload photo if had option. Overall good experience.
May 18, 2016
Purchased
 over 5 years ago
Sweetheart Apricot
We have had these trees for about 10 years and really like the fruit as well as the almond-like pits. The only problem is the fruit gets wiped out about every other year by our late frosts. Several years ago we bought three more of these trees and they are progressing well.
David Vaughn
Castle Valley, Utah
May 8, 2016
Purchased
 over 5 years ago
Vigourous Grower
I purchased this sweetheart apricot in the spring of 2015. Throughout the summer and into the fall not much happened as would be expected since it needed time to settle in... However it did Bud out and grow leaves. Sometime over the summer my husband accidentally ran over it with the truck and the lower part of the stem practically broke in half... He immediately put it back together and splinted it. We hoped for the best but I felt that it would surely die. This spring however much to my surprise not only did it mend itself you can barely tell that it was practically broken almost in half... In fact it has leaked out quite nicely
May 20, 2016
Purchased
 over 4 years ago
Nice and strong tree
Well grown, strong, had few fruit this year for the first time. Fruit is sweet and large.
August 3, 2016
Purchased
 over 4 years ago
Beautiful Tree
Still no fruit but this is growing into a beautiful shaped tree. I have it currently in a half whiskey barrel with strawberries and the pairing is very pretty.
May 17, 2016
Purchased
 over 4 years ago
Sweetheart Apricot
Pre-ordered 4 peach & apricot bare root trees from Starks they delivered on time in fall, well packaged and included informal easy to read instructions for care & planting. Flower Mound, TX
March 10, 2016
Purchased
 over 4 years ago
Strong trees
Here in central illinois we have had perrty strong storms and it didn't affect this tree at all so far it is growing great.
September 11, 2016
Purchased
 over 4 years ago
Right on schedule
In Indianapolis, we may be on the northern edge of growing zone (5). I was intrigued by the planting instructions which gave an exact date to plant - later than I expected. Just as I was filling in around the planted tree, heavy snow began - the bad winter of 2014-15! But the tree is growing well, not yet flowering or bearing. Glad I bought from my childhood neighbor, Stark's.
May 17, 2016
Purchased
 over 5 years ago

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