The apricot tree is a fruit tree of the Rosaceae family, the same family as peach, cherry and almond. It can reach more than 6 metres in height in a favourable natural situation. It tends to have strong vegetation. The trunk has a crunchy brown-black bark.
Its name comes from the Arabic word “albarquq” which means “early” because of the early spring flowering. Originally from China, it was long considered, by mistake, as coming from Armenia (hence its Latin name).