A pluot (plü-ot) is a tradename for a fruit developed in the late 20th century by Floyd Zaiger.[1] In the United States, the fruit is known by most regulatory agencies as an interspecific plum[2]. It is a complex cross hybrid of plum and apricot, being ¾ plum and ¼ apricot in parentage. The pluot, like the aprium, is derived from the ½ plum ½ apricot hybrid called the plumcot.
The fruit's exterior fairly closely resembles a plum's. Pluots are noted for their sweetness (due to a very high sugar content) and for their intense flavor. They are also extremely juicy. Pluots are also rich in vitamin A.
"Pluot" is a registered trademark of Zaiger's Genetics.
Varieties
Pluot varieties include:
- Dapple Dandy: large sweet with mottled pale green to yellow, red-spotted skin, red or pink juicy flesh. This variety is often marketed under the name Dinosaur Eggs due to its marbled coloring.
- Flavorella: round, medium-sized, golden-yellow, with sweet and juicy flesh.
- Flavor Grenade: oblong with red blush on green background, very sweet and juicy.
- Flavor Heart: very large, black with a heart shape and yellow flesh.
- Flavor King: very sweet, medium or large, with red-purple skin and red flesh.
- Flavorosa: very sweet or tart, medium-sized, flat round dark-purple fruit with red flesh.
- Flavor Prince: large round and purple, with red flesh.
- Flavor Rich (flavorich): medium-sweet, large black round fruit with orange flesh.
- Flavor Safari: medium, oblong, orange-red mottled fruit with juicy yellow flesh.
- Flavor Supreme: medium or large, greenish purple skin, juicy red flesh.
- Flavor Jewel: red blush on yellow gold background with yellow flesh.
- Flavor Queen: large light-green to yellow, very juicy.
- Sweet Treat: green yellow skin, very sweet and juicy flesh.
California pluots are sold during the summer and fall.