Description
Cot-N-Candy® Aprium is built for pure sweetness. When picked at full maturity, it delivers soft, candy-like apricot flavor with very low acidity—an easy favorite for growers who want an unmistakably sweet, dessert-style fruit. This apricot–plum hybrid ripens in the middle of the aprium season, after the earliest selections but well before late-season types. The smooth-skinned fruit leans strongly apricot in character, with a gentle, approachable eating quality rather than sharp brightness or complexity. Cot-N-Candy rewards careful timing at harvest. Flavor develops rapidly near full ripeness, and fruit picked too early can taste simple.
For growers willing to wait, the payoff is a consistently sweet, crowd-pleasing aprium that shines fresh off the tree.
Overview
- Apricot × plum interspecific hybrid (Aprium®)
- Sweetness-first flavor profile with low acidity
- Smooth-skinned fruit for fresh eating
- Mid-season ripening within apriums
- Self-fertile
Growing Details
Latin Name: Prunus armeniaca × Prunus salicina ‘Cot-N-Candy’
Site and Soil: 1/2 day to full day of sun; well-drained soil
Chill Requirement: Approx. 500 hours
Hardiness: USDA Zone 7–10
Rootstock: Citation
Bearing Age: 1–3 years
Size at Maturity: Semi-dwarf; typically maintained around 10–14 ft with pruning
Flowering Time: Early to mid flowering (within interspecific stone fruits)
Ripening Time: Mid-season for apriums; typically earlier than most pluots (timing varies by region)
Pollination: Self-fertile
Pests & Diseases: Standard stone fruit considerations; good airflow supports healthy growth
Yield: Moderate to good once established
Additional Notes
- Grower’s Insight: Cot-N-Candy is best harvested fully ripe—its defining sweetness develops late, and patience at harvest makes all the difference.
- Regional Insight: In cooler or wetter spring climates such as the Pacific Northwest, coastal regions, or higher elevations, a warm, sunny site and open canopy help ensure consistent bloom and fruit quality.
- Ripening Context: Cot-N-Candy typically ripens after early apriums like Flavor Delight and Leah Cot, and before late-season selections such as Summer Delight.
- Thin fruit in heavy years to improve size and reduce limb stress.
- Explore more interspecific hybrids in our collection: All Interspecific Hybrids
