Can I Grow Apricot in Wyoming?

USDA Zones 3a-5b · Plant zone range 4-9

Conditional — Some Areas

apricot (zones 4-9) has limited zone overlap with Wyoming (3a-5b). Only zones 4-5 in the state are suitable.

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Your yard isn't the whole zone.

Wyoming spans zones 3a-5b, but your yard sits in exactly one — and slope, tree cover, and cold-air pockets nudge it further. Enter your address and we'll score apricot against your parcel's actual hardiness, soil, and sun.

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Zone Comparison

Apricot Needs

  • USDA Zones: 4-9
  • Soil pH: 5 - 8
  • Sun: Full Sun
  • Drainage: well (dry spells)
  • Frost-Free Days: 180+

Wyoming Has

  • USDA Zones: 3a-5b
  • Last Frost: May 10 - Jun 15
  • First Frost: Aug 25 - Sep 25
  • Annual Rainfall: 6-20 inches
  • Common Soils: Sandy loam, Clay, Alkaline

Plant Zone Range (zones 4-9)

4a
9b
3a (Cold)13b (Hot)

Preferred Soil pH

3.5 (Acidic)7.0 (Neutral)9.0 (Alkaline)
Highlighted range: pH 5.08.0

Plant data: USDA PLANTS Database / plant_species_v5.csv. State data: USDA ARS PHZM 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, NRCS SSURGO.

When to Plant Apricot in Wyoming

The frost window

Across Wyoming, the last spring frost clears between May 10 and Jun 15, and the first fall frost lands between Aug 25 and Sep 25 (NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020). Counting from the latest last frost to the earliest first frost, that's a 71-day window you can count on — up to 138 days on a mild site in a kind year.

Frost tenderness

Apricot is frost-tender — its listed minimum temperature is 44.6°F (USDA PLANTS Database) — so set plants out after the last frost has cleared your local site, not the state's earliest date.

Establishment timing

As a long-lived plant, apricot isn't racing the calendar to a harvest date. Plant it in spring once the last-frost window passes so roots settle in through the full season, or in early fall while the soil still holds summer warmth.

Timing tuned to sub-state frost dates — Lincoln County, not the statewide average.

Frost window: NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020. Plant timing fields: USDA PLANTS Database. Your site's own frost dates can run earlier or later than the state range — a parcel report pins them down.

Growing Season Fit

Zone compatibility says you can survive winter here. Whether the growing season is long enough — and warm enough — is a different question.

Frost-free days

Apricot wants 180+ frost-free days; a typical Wyoming site sees ~170 (NOAA Climate Normals). That leaves tight; use transplants and pick early-maturing cultivars.

Growing degree days

Apricot needs ~1800 GDD (base 50°F) to ripen. The state median runs ~2700 GDD (USDA NRCS county aggregates), so Wyoming's typical season clears that easily.

Chill hours

Apricot requires ~400 chill hours (32-45°F dormancy window). Wyoming typically banks ~1650 chill hours per winter (MSU Extension method), which keeps this plant on track.

Climate aggregates derive from USDA NRCS county-level hardiness data + Cornell CALS Extension GDD-by-region tables + MSU Extension chill-hours-by-zone (1991-2020 NOAA Climate Normals baseline).

Soil + Drainage Fit

Apricot likes near-neutral soil (pH 5-8). That's the common-ground band across Wyoming's sandy loam and clay — a soil test confirms it for your site. Drainage matters: this plant wants well (dry spells). If your Wyoming site is heavier clay or sits in a low spot, raised beds or amendment with compost solve it.

Your land, not the state average

Wyoming's soils run mostly loam, but SSURGO maps the series, texture, and drainage under your exact parcel — that map unit, not the state average, decides how apricot performs.

Check your parcel → Source: USDA NRCS SSURGO.

Plant pH and drainage requirements from USDA PLANTS Database. Wyoming soil profile from USDA NRCS SSURGO. Site-specific verification: a 30-minute soil test from your local Extension lab.

Apricot in Wyoming — Quick Answer

  • Verdict: Conditional — Some Areas
  • Plant Zones: 4-9 (USDA PLANTS Database)
  • State Zones: 3a-5b (USDA ARS PHZM 2023)
  • Growing Season: May 10 - Jun 15 to Aug 25 - Sep 25 (NOAA Climate Normals)
  • Days to Maturity: 1095 days

What Else to Consider

Zone compatibility tells you about winter cold survival — but Wyoming growers also need to think about:

Extremely short growing season (60-90 frost-free days)

At 60-90 frost-free days, a greenhouse or high tunnel isn't optional equipment — it's where the season actually happens.

Very low rainfall requires irrigation

Drip irrigation under mulch makes scarce water go the distance — build the system before the first bed.

Persistent high winds desiccate and damage plants

Windbreaks first, plants second — a sheltered bed loses a fraction of the moisture an exposed one does.

Growing apricot here specifically

At ~1095 days to harvest, apricot barely fits Wyoming's ~169 frost-free days — there's little slack if spring runs cold.

Give apricot an indoor head start and a row cover in fall to beat the first freeze. How to handle it →

Timing shifts within Wyoming

Wyoming isn't one climate. In Lincoln County, the last hard freeze (28°F) holds until about May 23 — roughly 25 days later than the recorded state median — so plant apricot to your county's window, not the statewide date.

County last-freeze dates: NOAA/PRISM Climate Normals 1991-2020, 28°F threshold (earlier than the folk 32°F "last frost"). A parcel report resolves your address's own frost dates.

Pollinator + Wildlife Value

Apricot draws pollinators (high value, USDA PLANTS Database). Planting it near vegetable beds can lift fruit set on neighboring crops.

Good to Know Before You Plant Apricot

Apricot is listed as toxic to dogs, cats, horses (seeds, leaves, bark) at a moderate level (ASPCA). Most listed plants only cause brief upset — a raised bed or a fenced corner usually keeps curious pets clear.

Wyoming Cooperative Extension

For Wyoming-specific cultivar recommendations, planting calendars, and pest pressure for apricot, the canonical source is University of Wyoming Extension. Their fact sheets carry the local trial data we can't generalize across 50 states.

Is Apricot native to Wyoming?

No — the USDA PLANTS Database lists Apricot as introduced rather than native in the Lower 48, so it is not part of Wyoming's native flora. It grows here as a garden plant; pairing it with a few Wyoming natives keeps local pollinators fed too.

Looking for plants that belong here? The Wyoming growing guide lists USDA-documented natives for the state.

Native-range data: USDA PLANTS Database state-distribution records, accessed 2026-07-01.

Common Questions About Growing Apricot in Wyoming

When can I plant Apricot in Wyoming?

Wyoming's last spring frost clears between May 10 and Jun 15, and the first fall frost lands between Aug 25 and Sep 25 (NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020). Apricot is a long-lived planting, so target spring just after your local last frost — or early fall while the soil holds warmth — and let it establish through the season.

What hardiness zone is Apricot grown in across Wyoming?

Wyoming spans USDA hardiness zones 3a-5b (USDA ARS PHZM 2023). Apricot carries a range of zones 4-9, so the overlap zones are where outdoor growing is most reliable.

How many frost-free days does a typical Wyoming site have?

A typical Wyoming site sees ~170 frost-free days per year (derived from NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020). Apricot needs 180+ frost-free days, so check whether your local microclimate runs above or below the state average before settling on a planting date. In cooler counties like Lincoln, the freeze-free season runs shorter than the state average, so verify your own county's window.

Is Apricot native to Wyoming?

No — the USDA PLANTS Database lists Apricot as introduced rather than native in the Lower 48, so it is not part of Wyoming's native flora. It grows here as a garden plant; pairing it with a few Wyoming natives keeps local pollinators fed too.

How should I amend the soil for Apricot in Wyoming?

Apricot prefers pH 5-8 and well (dry spells) drainage (USDA PLANTS Database). That sits in the common-ground band across Wyoming soils — a 30-minute soil test from a local Extension lab confirms it for your specific site.

Will Apricot actually grow on my specific land in Wyoming?

State-level zone + climate data is a sketch. A Growable Ground parcel report scores apricot against your address's exact soil pH, drainage, sun, and frost-date data drawn from USDA SSURGO, NOAA, and PRISM — not state averages.

Free Report

Check your specific parcel in Wyoming

State-level data is a sketch. Your Growable Ground report scores apricot against your parcel's exact soil, sun, drainage, and frost data — not zone averages.

Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:

Your soil pHYour frost-free daysYour sun & shade

We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.

25+ data sources analyzed in seconds

Analysis by the Growable Ground research team, grounded in USDA PLANTS, USDA NRCS SSURGO, NOAA Climate Normals (1991-2020), and named Cooperative Extension sources. How we know →

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