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WE HAVE MOVED! Our new Location at 11 Ayrshire Crescent, Sandgate is open to the public every Saturday 8am - 2pm.
The Australian cultivar Prunus armeniaca 'Story' (commonly cataloged by nurseries as 'Storey', 'Storeys', or 'Early Moorpark') is a premium, high-yielding stone fruit tree favored by home orchardists. It is a natural, early-ripening bud sport (genetic mutation) of the world-famous heirloom 'Moorpark' apricot. The tree is 100% self-fertile; you do not need a cross-pollinator tree; a single specimen will reliably set a heavy crop entirely on its own. Before the fruit appears, the tree puts on a stunning landscape display of pink-and-white spring blossoms, followed by attractive, dense, heart-shaped green foliage. It is not recommended for sub-tropical or tropical regions (like coastal Queensland or northern NSW) because the winters are too mild to set fruit.
Fruit Colour: Classic golden-orange apricots with a distinct, beautiful red blush on the sun-exposed skin.
Fruit Shape: The fruit is round to slightly oblong-oval, featuring a distinct, shallow suture line running down the side, characteristic of classic heirloom apricots.
Fruit Size: Medium-to-large,
Flavour: The bright orange flesh is firm, intensely sweet, and juicy
Fruit Season: Mid-December to early January
Cropping Habit: The tree is a precocious cropper, meaning it begins bearing fruit early in its life cycle—often yielding light crops just 2 to 3 years after planting, reaching full production by years 5 to 6.
Best Uses: It is widely considered an excellent "all-rounder" for eating fresh off the branch, baking, jam-making, and drying.
Light requirement: Full sun
Water requirement: Moderate to high during fruit development
Watering frequency: Regular; consistent moisture required during flowering and fruit swell for best fruit quality. Keep the soil consistently moist until the root system is well-established.
Soil: Demands well-draining, fertile, loamy soil with a neutral pH.
Skill level: Easy-Intermediate
Growth rate: Moderate
Suitable for container gardens: Yes, suitable for large containers with pruning and care.
Mature Height: 3-4m
Mature Width: 3-4m
Seasonality: Deciduous
Drought Tolerant: Moderate—high once established.
Frost Tolerant: Moderate (Tree). The 'Story' apricot needs a distinct winter cold period—roughly 400 to 500 chill hours below 7°C—to break its winter dormancy and successfully set fruit.
Wind Tolerant: Low-moderate (blooms can get damaged and upset fruit production)
Leaf colour: Spring/Summer, vibrant, bright green to dark green. Autumn, bright yellow, glowing orange, and warm red-orange
Leaf Variegation pattern: No
Size of leaf: 5-10 cm in length and about 4-8 cm in width.
The Australian cultivar Prunus armeniaca 'Story' (commonly cataloged by nurseries as 'Storey', 'Storeys', or 'Early Moorpark') is a premium, high-yielding stone fruit tree favored by home orchardists. It is a natural, early-ripening bud sport (genetic mutation) of the world-famous heirloom 'Moorpark' apricot. The tree is 100% self-fertile; you do not need a cross-pollinator tree; a single specimen will reliably set a heavy crop entirely on its own. Before the fruit appears, the tree puts on a stunning landscape display of pink-and-white spring blossoms, followed by attractive, dense, heart-shaped green foliage. It is not recommended for sub-tropical or tropical regions (like coastal Queensland or northern NSW) because the winters are too mild to set fruit.
Fruit Colour: Classic golden-orange apricots with a distinct, beautiful red blush on the sun-exposed skin.
Fruit Shape: The fruit is round to slightly oblong-oval, featuring a distinct, shallow suture line running down the side, characteristic of classic heirloom apricots.
Fruit Size: Medium-to-large,
Flavour: The bright orange flesh is firm, intensely sweet, and juicy
Fruit Season: Mid-December to early January
Cropping Habit: The tree is a precocious cropper, meaning it begins bearing fruit early in its life cycle—often yielding light crops just 2 to 3 years after planting, reaching full production by years 5 to 6.
Best Uses: It is widely considered an excellent "all-rounder" for eating fresh off the branch, baking, jam-making, and drying.
Light requirement: Full sun
Water requirement: Moderate to high during fruit development
Watering frequency: Regular; consistent moisture required during flowering and fruit swell for best fruit quality. Keep the soil consistently moist until the root system is well-established.
Soil: Demands well-draining, fertile, loamy soil with a neutral pH.
Skill level: Easy-Intermediate
Growth rate: Moderate
Suitable for container gardens: Yes, suitable for large containers with pruning and care.
Mature Height: 3-4m
Mature Width: 3-4m
Seasonality: Deciduous
Drought Tolerant: Moderate—high once established.
Frost Tolerant: Moderate (Tree). The 'Story' apricot needs a distinct winter cold period—roughly 400 to 500 chill hours below 7°C—to break its winter dormancy and successfully set fruit.
Wind Tolerant: Low-moderate (blooms can get damaged and upset fruit production)
Leaf colour: Spring/Summer, vibrant, bright green to dark green. Autumn, bright yellow, glowing orange, and warm red-orange
Leaf Variegation pattern: No
Size of leaf: 5-10 cm in length and about 4-8 cm in width.