Introduction
Pluot varieties combine traits from plums and apricots, but they usually show more plum than apricot in flavor and appearance. This hybrid fruit has smooth skin, juicy flesh, and flavors that can range from honey-sweet to bright and tangy.
If you are learning how to choose a pluot variety, compare chill needs, pollination, harvest timing, tree size, and pluot taste. The right pluot tree is one that fits your climate and has a compatible pollinizer.
What Is a Pluot?
What is a pluot fruit? A pluot is a plum-apricot hybrid developed through traditional plant breeding. Luther Burbank worked on early plumcot varieties, while breeder Floyd Zaiger and Zaiger Genetics later developed many modern types of pluots.
If you ask what is a pluot plumcot, plumcot is generally used for an earlier, more even plum-apricot cross, while pluots are later hybrids that tend to be more plum than apricot.
This also helps explain pluot vs aprium. Pluots usually show stronger plum traits, while apriums show more apricot character.
Learn more in our guide to the world of pluots.
Compare Popular Pluot Types
Pluot varieties differ in flavor, texture, skin color, and flesh color. Use this comparison to narrow your choices, then check local harvest timing, winter chill requirements, and compatible pollinizers before selecting a tree.
| Variety | Flavor and Texture | Fruit Appearance |
|---|---|---|
| Splash | Very sweet; highly rated in Dave Wilson Nursery fruit tastings. | Small to medium fruit with red-orange skin and orange flesh. Shape ranges from round to heart-shaped. |
| Dapple Supreme | Sweet fruit with red flesh. | Mottled green-and-red skin with dark red flesh. |
| Dapple Dandy | Distinctive plum-apricot flavor; highly rated in nursery taste tests. | Greenish-yellow skin with red spots, developing a maroon-and-yellow dapple. Flesh combines creamy white and red. |
| Flavor Supreme | Sweet, richly flavored fruit with firm flesh. | Greenish-maroon mottled skin and red flesh. |
| Flavor Queen | Very sweet flavor with little tartness. | Greenish-yellow skin with amber-orange flesh. |
| Flavor King | Strong aroma with a sweet, spicy flavor. | Reddish-purple skin and crimson flesh. |
| Flavor Grenade | Sweet, crisp fruit that can retain its crunch when ripe. | Elongated green fruit with a pink-to-red blush. |
An option for limited space: A multi-grafted pluot carries several cultivars on one tree and may provide different flavors and harvest windows. It is not a separate variety. The supplied cultivars can vary, so check the graft labels and confirm their chill requirements and pollination compatibility.
Harvest timing: Ripening dates vary by cultivar, location, and season. Nursery calendars are regional guides, not fixed nationwide schedules. Confirm local timing when choosing early-, mid-, or late-season trees.
Sources: For general pollination guidance, see Oregon State University Extension's pluot pollination advice. Flavor descriptions are subjective and do not guarantee identical results in every garden.
When Are Pluots in Season?
When are pluots in season? The pluots season usually stretches across summer, with some cultivars extending later. The exact dates depend on cultivar, region, weather, and crop load.
Likewise, plumcot season and plumcots season vary by cultivar rather than following one fixed national calendar.
You may find ripe pluots at a farmer market or in grocery stores during their regional harvest window. If growing your own, compare early, midseason, and late cultivars to extend harvest.
Chill and Pollination Matter
Before choosing any fruit tree, check winter chill. UC ANR notes that pluot chill requirements vary by cultivar. Review our fruit-tree chill guide.
Most pluots need to be cross pollinated by a compatible pluot or certain Japanese plums with overlapping bloom. Similar harvest dates do not prove compatibility.
Use our fruit-tree pollination guide and verify the live product page before buying.
For general care, see the complete pluot growing guide, bare-root tree selection guide, and plum growing guide.
Conclusion
The best pluot varieties depend on your climate, preferred flavor, harvest window, and pollination plan. Some gardeners prefer crisp fruit like Flavor Grenade, while others enjoy rich cultivars such as Flavor King or Flavor Supreme.
Browse current pluot trees and plum trees, then confirm chill hours, rootstock, bloom compatibility, and current availability before ordering.
