Peach Tree

The peach tree (Prunus persica) is a small deciduous fruit tree that produces sweet, juicy peaches with soft, fuzzy skin. It first came from China, where people have grown peaches for thousands of years, and today it is grown in warm and temperate places all around the world.

Scientific Classification & Quick Facts

Common name	Peach tree
Scientific name	Prunus persica
Kingdom	Plantae
Phylum	Tracheophyta
Class	Magnoliopsida
Order	Rosales
Family	Rosaceae
Genus	Prunus
Type	Deciduous fruit tree
Habitat	Sheltered, sunny spot with well-drained soil
Native range	Northwest China
Colours	Pink flowers; white or yellow fruit flesh
Flowering season	Early spring, before the leaves
Height	4 to 10 meters
Edible parts	Juicy, fleshy fruit

Where Peaches Come From

Peaches were first domesticated in China, where they are still a symbol of long life and good luck. Traders carried them west along ancient routes to Persia (modern-day Iran), and from there they reached Europe. Because Europeans first knew the peach as a fruit from Persia, it was given the scientific name persica, even though its true home is China.

China is still by far the world’s largest producer of peaches, growing more than half of all the peaches on Earth.

Family and Relatives

The peach belongs to the genus Prunus in the rose family, Rosaceae, along with plums, cherries, apricots and almonds. Its closest relative is the almond, and both are placed in the subgroup Amygdalus. The deeply grooved, wrinkled shell of the peach pit is one feature that sets it apart from its cousins.

Peaches and Nectarines

Nectarines are actually the same species as peaches. The only big difference is the skin: peaches are fuzzy, while nectarines are smooth. This comes down to a single gene. The version for fuzzy skin is dominant, while the version for smooth skin is recessive, so a tree needs two copies of the smooth-skin version to produce nectarines. Even so, shops sell them as different fruits.

What a Peach Tree Looks Like

Peach trees usually grow about 13 to 33 feet (4 to 10 m) tall, although garden trees are often pruned to be much smaller. The long, narrow leaves are about 3 to 6 inches (7 to 16 cm) long, with a pointed tip.

In early spring, before the leaves appear, the bare branches are covered with pink flowers about an inch (2.5 to 3 cm) across, each with five petals. These are followed by the fruit, which has yellow or white flesh around a single large stone, or pit. Ripe peaches bruise very easily.

Types of Peaches

Growers divide peaches into groups based on how the flesh holds onto the stone:

• Freestone peaches have flesh that comes away easily from the pit, making them great for eating fresh.
• Clingstone peaches have flesh that sticks tightly to the pit and are often used for canning.

Peaches can also have white or yellow flesh. White-fleshed peaches tend to be sweet with very little acid and are especially popular in China, Japan and other parts of Asia. Yellow-fleshed peaches have a sweet but tangier flavor and have traditionally been favored in North America and Europe.

Growing a Peach Tree at Home

Choosing a Spot

Peaches need full sun and well-drained soil that still holds some moisture. Because they flower so early in the year, their blossoms can be damaged by frost, so choose a sheltered spot and avoid low-lying frost pockets. Most peach varieties are self-fertile, meaning one tree can produce fruit on its own.

Peach trees also need a certain amount of winter cold, called “chill hours,” to flower properly, so pick a variety that suits your local climate.

Fan-Training Against a Wall

In cooler climates such as Britain, gardeners often grow peaches as a flat “fan” against a sunny south- or southwest-facing wall or fence. The warm wall helps ripen the fruit and makes it easier to protect the blossoms.

• Before planting, fix horizontal training wires to the wall about 6 inches (15 cm) apart, starting about 12 inches (30 cm) above the ground.
• Plant bare-root trees during the dormant season, roughly November to March, about 6 to 8 inches (15 to 20 cm) away from the wall and angled slightly toward it.
• If planting several trees, space them about 12 to 15 feet (3.6 to 4.5 m) apart.
• A part-trained fan from a nursery saves years of work. Spread its branches evenly on both sides and tie them to canes fixed to the wires.

Watering

Soil at the base of a wall can get very dry, so check it often and water thoroughly during dry, sunny weather. Try to water regularly rather than in sudden large amounts, because uneven watering can cause the fruit to split. Trees in containers may need watering almost every day in summer.

Feeding

Peaches are hungry trees that need more nitrogen than many other fruit trees. Pale, yellowing leaves and weak growth are signs that a tree needs feeding. In late winter, spread a balanced granular fertilizer around the root area, following the package directions. Once the fruit starts to swell, a liquid feed high in potash (potassium), such as a tomato fertilizer, every two weeks helps the fruit develop.

Flowers, Pollination and Thinning

Peach flowers open so early that few pollinating insects are around, so it helps to pollinate them by hand. On a sunny day, gently dab the center of each flower with a small, soft paintbrush to move pollen from flower to flower. Cover wall-trained trees with fleece on frosty nights while they are in bloom.

Peach trees often set more fruit than they can grow well. When the young fruits are about the size of a hazelnut, remove any that are damaged, misshapen or crowded. Later, thin again so the remaining fruits are about 6 inches (15 cm) apart. This gives you fewer, but bigger and better, peaches.

Pruning

Peaches fruit on shoots that grew the year before. Pruning is mainly about removing shoots that have already fruited and encouraging fresh new ones to replace them. Prune fan-trained peaches in spring and summer rather than winter, which helps reduce the risk of disease getting into the cuts.

Pests and Diseases

Peach leaf curl is a common fungal disease. Infected leaves become thick, puckered and blistered, turning red or pink, and later develop a white, powdery coating of spores before falling early. Repeated attacks weaken the tree. The spores are spread by rain, so covering wall-trained trees with a clear plastic shelter from midwinter to late spring is a very effective way to prevent it.

Scale insects are tiny, limpet-like bugs that cling to stems and the undersides of leaves, sucking sap. They produce a sticky substance called honeydew, which allows black sooty mold to grow. Small numbers can be scraped or wiped off by hand. Larger infestations can be treated with organic sprays in summer, or a plant-oil winter wash while the tree is dormant.

Harvesting and Storage

Peaches are ripe when they are fully colored and the flesh near the stalk feels slightly soft. To pick one, cup it in your palm and lift gently; a ripe peach comes away easily. Check the tree every day or two, because the fruits do not all ripen at once.

Peaches taste best eaten soon after picking. Firm ones can finish softening at room temperature, and ripe ones keep for a few days in the fridge.

Peach tree FAQs

Related: Almond Tree