Description

Leaves: Alternate; simple; oblong-lanceolate; 3" to 6" long, 3/4" to 1-1/2" wide; deciduous; glabrous; serrate; short petiole with glands.

Twigs/buds: Twigs medium texture, greenish to reddish, glabrous, with prominent lenticels. Buds scaly, red-brown like twig.

Flowers/fruit: Flowers perfect, pink to white, single or double, 2" to 2-1/2" wide.  Fruit a hairy, large red to yellow drupe (common peach) with a groove down one side and a hard, wrinkled pit.

Bark: Dark gray, smooth when young, lenticeled; split and irregularly scaly with age.

Wood: Information unavailable.

General: Native to China and long-cultivated.  Very prone to pest damage.  Shade intolerant.  Weak wood and/or branch structure.  Thorns or spines that can be dangerous; use thornless varieties if possible.  Fruit and/or plant part can be nuisances; use fruitless varieties if possible.

Landscape Use: Should only be grown for fruit.  Pests are a severe problem.  Also not very cold-hardy, and trees planted as far north as Brigham City regularly get knocked back.  Be sure not to water excessively.  Many cultivars.  Zones 5-9.

Cultivars: 'Alba Plena', 'Dwarf Forms', 'Early Double Pink', 'Early Double Red', 'Early Double White', 'Helen Borchers', 'Peppermint Stick', 'Royal Red Leaf', 'Weeping Double Pink.

Characteristics