Description
Flavor Queen® Pluot is an early-mid season interspecific hybrid prized for its remarkable sweetness. With golden flesh and honey-like flavor, it stands out as one of the most sugar-rich pluots available.
The fruit develops green-yellow skin and amber flesh that becomes intensely sweet as it ripens. Unlike pluots that rely on acidity or wine-like complexity, Flavor Queen leans decisively toward rich sugar and dessert-style flavor.
Because the fruit retains a greenish color even when ripe, harvest timing is important. Allow fruit to soften slightly and develop full aroma for the best eating experience. When picked at peak maturity, Flavor Queen delivers an unmistakably sweet, juicy pluot that lives up to its name.
Overview
- Plum × apricot interspecific hybrid (Pluot®)
- Exceptionally sweet dessert-style fruit
- Golden flesh with green-yellow skin
- Early-mid season ripening within pluots
- Pollination partner recommended for best production
Growing Details
Latin Name: Prunus salicina × Prunus armeniaca ‘Flavor Queen’
Site and Soil: 1/2 day to full day of sun; well-drained soil
Chill Requirement: Approx. 500 hours
Hardiness: Hardy to USDA Zone 6
Rootstock: Myro 29C
Bearing Age: 1–3 years
Size at Maturity: Semi-dwarf; typically maintained around 12–15 ft with pruning
Flowering Time: Mid spring
Ripening Time: Early-mid season pluot; typically late June to early July in warm reference climates (timing varies by region)
Pollination: Requires a compatible pollination partner planted within 20–30 ft for best fruit set
Pests & Diseases: Standard stone fruit considerations; good airflow supports healthy growth
Yield: Moderate to good once established
Additional Notes
- Grower’s Insight: Flavor Queen is widely regarded as one of the sweetest pluots ever bred. Allow fruit to hang until slightly soft for maximum sugar development.
- Regional Insight: In cooler or wetter spring climates such as the Pacific Northwest, coastal regions, or higher elevations, planting multiple compatible pluots nearby helps ensure reliable pollination and stronger crops.
- Ripening Context: Flavor Queen typically ripens before mid-season pluots such as Dapple Dandy and ahead of later varieties like Flavor King.
- Because fruit color remains greenish-yellow at maturity, rely on softness and aroma rather than color alone to judge ripeness.
- Explore more interspecific hybrids in our collection: All Interspecific Hybrids
