Blenheim

Apricot

Size

Medium (some sources say medium-large)

Shape

Round; golden-orange skin, often with red blush on the sunny side

Flavor

Complex sweet-tart with honeysuckle/honey notes and concentrated apricot aroma - widely considered the flavor benchmark for the species

Texture

Freestone, tender and juicy

Ripening window

Late June - early July

Best uses

Canning (California's classic canning apricot), drying, fresh eating, jam/preserves, juicing

Pollination

Self-fertile, but cross-pollination with Tomcot, Harcot, or Earli Autumn increases yield

Tree size

15-20 ft x 15-20 ft (semi-dwarf available on Citation rootstock)

Notes

Also sold as "Royal" or "Royal Blenheim" - essentially synonymous in the trade today, though the two names may have had separate 19th-century origins (Royal from France ~1815, Shipley's Blenheim from England); don't create a separate record if you see "Royal" listed elsewhere. Chill requirement ~400-500 hours (low-chill), zones 5-8/7-9. Among the earliest apricots to bloom, which combined with the low chill requirement puts it at meaningful risk for late-frost bloom loss in a zone 8a Texas spring - flag for frost-protection planning. Benefits from full sun and good airflow to reduce blossom blight risk in humid weather.