Peach Tree

Peach Tree (Prunus persica)

Peach Tree is a classic fruit tree prized for showy pink spring blossoms and sweet, aromatic fruit with yellow or white flesh; its manageable, rounded habit suits sunny home orchards, espaliers, and edible landscapes in temperate climates.

Distinctive Features

Fragrant flowers on bare wood are followed by fuzzy, red-blushed fruit in freestone or clingstone types; many modern cultivars offer strong flavor, reliable cropping, and disease tolerance when sited and pruned correctly.

Growing Conditions

• Sun Exposure: Full sun for strongest bloom, sugar, and color.
• Soil: Deep, well-drained loam enriched with organic matter; avoid soggy or compacted sites.
• Water: Keep evenly moist from bloom through fruit swell; reduce slightly after harvest.
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9, depending on cultivar and chill needs.
• Mature Size: About 12 to 15 ft tall and wide on semi-dwarf; 8 to 12 ft on dwarf rootstocks.
• Bloom Time: Early to mid spring; fruit ripens mid to late summer by cultivar.
• Soil pH: Slightly acidic to neutral, about 6.0 to 7.0.

Ideal Uses

• Focal Point: Pink spring bloom and colorful fruit create a seasonal centerpiece.
• Home Orchard: Reliable freestone or clingstone harvests for fresh eating and preserving.
• Espalier: Trains flat on fences or walls for high yield in small spaces.
• Edible Landscape: Attractive canopy pairs with herbs and pollinator borders.

Low Maintenance Care

• Watering: Deeply soak when the top 1 to 2 in are dry; increase frequency during heat and fruit swell.
• Pruning: Train to open center; winter prune to renew fruiting wood and summer thin watersprouts for light and airflow.
• Fertilizing: Feed in early spring with a balanced fruit tree fertilizer based on soil test; avoid excess nitrogen that softens fruit and boosts disease.
• Mulching: Apply 2 to 3 in organic mulch, keeping it a few inches from the trunk, to conserve moisture and suppress weeds.
• Notes: Mostly self-fertile; thin fruit to 6 to 8 in spacing for size and branch safety; monitor for leaf curl, brown rot, and borers and use sanitation and timely sprays where pressure is high.

Why Choose Peach Tree?

• Iconic Flavor: Juicy, sweet fruit for fresh eating, canning, and desserts.
• Seasonal Beauty: Showy blossom and colorful summer harvests.
• Home Garden Fit: Manageable size on dwarf and semi-dwarf rootstocks.
• Training Flexibility: Performs as open-center tree or formal espalier.

Plant in full sun with well-drained soil, keep moisture steady during fruit set, and prune and thin regularly for premium summer peaches.