Chinese Mormon

The Chinese Mormon apricot (also called Mormon or Chinese Mormon) is an old, cold-hardy apricot variety grown widely in the Intermountain West and Upper Midwest for its reliability in short-season climates. Believed to have been introduced by Mormon pioneers from China in the 1800s, it remains valued for its late bloom, which helps avoid spring frosts. As a rootstock, it can serve as a hardy base for other apricot cultivars in regions with cold winters, though it is less commonly used than Manchurian apricot or Myrobalan plum. Its compatibility as an interstem is promising: it bridges well with apricot cultivars and shows some potential in uniting less compatible stone fruits such as plum or peach, though performance may vary by site and cultivar. Historically, its main significance lies in expanding apricot culture into harsher northern zones where more tender types fail.