About
A spreading, deciduous tree with pointed, glossy green leaves to 15cm long. Peaches are ripe for harvesting in August. Blossom is scented, pink, and produced on bare stems in spring, this is followed by downy, red-blushed peaches with yellow flesh.
About the genus
Prunus can be deciduous or evergreen trees or shrubs with showy flowers in spring, and often good autumn foliage colour. Some have edible fruit in autumn, and a few species have ornamental bark
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun
Soil typeChalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained
AspectSouth-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH4
Plant details
Plant typeTrees, Fruit Edible
HabitSpreading branched
FoliageDeciduous
Height4-8 metres
Spread4-8 metres
Time to full height10-20 years
Suggested usesCity and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Wildlife gardens
FragranceFlower
Care notes
CultivationPlant in a sunny, sheltered site with moist but well-drained, fertile soil, away from frost pockets. Can be grown as a standard or bush in milder areas, or fan-trained against a south-facing wall; final size will depend on the rootstock used. Peach blossom is early, so flowers may need protection from frost.
PruningPrune established fans in spring and summer. Free standing peaches are pruned in the same way as pruning acid cherries
PropagationPeaches are usually propagated by grafting onto rootstocks for fruit. They can be propagated from seed, although the fruit from the seedlings is likely to be inferior in flavour to the parent, and seed-raised trees take four to five years to bear fruit
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to aphids and caterpillars, birds and squirrels can damage fruit
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to silver leaf, honey fungus, bacterial canker and brown rot. This cultivar has some resistance to peach leaf curl, cover in winter to provide further protection from infection