How to identify Peach (Prunus persica)

How to identify Peach (Prunus persica)

Peach features a spreading canopy with leaves that unfurl to a length of 3-6 inches (7.6-15.2 cm). The leaves are lanceolate with finely serrated margins and a glossy green surface. Springtime brings an array of single, pink flowers, each consisting of five petals, that later give way to fleshy fruits typically measuring 2.5-3 inches (6.4-7.6 cm) in diameter. The fruit bears a velvety skin and may range in color from yellow to deep red.

Lifespan: Perennial

Plant Type: Tree, Shrub

Leaf Type: Deciduous

Quickly Identify Peach

Lanceolate leaves with serrated margins, 3-6 inches (7.6-15.2 cm) long

Pink flowers with five petals, 1-1.5 inches (2.5-3.8 cm) wide

Fruits measuring 2.5-3 inches (6.4-7.6 cm), yellow to deep red

Alternate leaves with toothed margins, 2-6 inches (5-15 cm) long

Stems with reddish young growth, 0.5 inches (1.2 cm) thick, regular branching pattern

Detailed Traits of Peach

Leaf Features

The leaves of peach are 2-6 inches (5-15 cm) long and 1/2-1.5 inches (1.2-3.8 cm) wide, alternate and simple with a long-pointed tip, and a toothed margin. They bear two small glands at the base of the blade. The under surface may have a few hairs, while the upper surface is smooth. The leaves tend to curl inward along the central vein, making their shape easily recognizable.

Learn About the Leaf Glossary

Flower Features

The flowers of peach are a delightful spectacle in spring, showcasing a solitary or occasionally paired arrangement. Each bloom features five petals with a captivating pink hue. Measuring 1-1.5 inches (2.5-3.8 cm) across, these flowers emit a pleasant fragrance, enhancing their charm. They appear before the leaves, offering an early sign of the plant's seasonal cycle. The distinct combination of color, size, and scent makes these flowers easily identifiable and a favorite among plant enthusiasts.

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Stem Features

The stem of peach exhibits a dynamic range of colors through its stages of growth. Young stems are reddish, transitioning to gray as they mature. The green and smooth new growth at the tips is a distinguishing feature. Typically, the stems are moderately thick, around 0.5 inches (1.2 cm) in diameter, and display a regular branching pattern. These variations in color and texture are distinctive and helpful for identifying peach.

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Fruit Features

The fruit of peach is a succulent summer delight, typically measuring about 3 inches (7.6 cm) in diameter. It displays a skin that ranges from sunny yellow to blushing orange, often adorned with a red hue. Enclosed within its juicy flesh lies a substantial, coarsely-textured pit. Its outer surface is enveloped by a delicate fuzz of fine hairs, although a recessive genetic variation can render the fruit smooth-skinned, distinguishing nectarines from their fuzzy counterparts. Characteristically round to slightly oval, this fruit invites with its soft, inviting texture and vibrant coloration.

Learn About the Fruit Glossary

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The golden pothos (Epipremnum aureum) is a popular houseplant that is commonly seen in Australia, Asia, and the West Indies. It goes by many nicknames, including "devil's ivy", because it is so hard to kill and can even grow in low light conditions. Golden pothos has poisonous sap, so it should be kept away from pets and children.

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Swiss cheese plant

The swiss cheese plant (Monstera deliciosa) produces bright, glossy leaves and makes a popular houseplant. It is originally native to tropical forest regions in Central America. The nickname swiss cheese plant refers to the small holes that develop in the plant's leaves. The long fruits resemble corncobs and smell sweet and fragrant when ripe.

Bigleaf hydrangea

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Peach and Their Similar Plants

Sweet cherry vs. Peach: What's The Difference?

Sweet cherry is a well-known species to fruit lovers worldwide. This stone fruit varies in flavor from sweet to tart, depending on the specific cultivar. Sweet cherry is also used for lumber and is a preferred wood type for furniture.

Cherry plum vs. Peach: What's The Difference?

Cherry plum (Prunus cerasifera) is a deciduous small tree or shrub native to Southern Europe and Western Asia. It is one of the most common wild fruits of its native region, producing numerous rounded, yellow, red, or burgundy-colored sweet juicy fruit in summer and autumn. Cherry plum is also used as an ornamental tree and as rootstock for other Prunus species.

Black cherry vs. Peach: What's The Difference?

Black cherry (Prunus serotina) is a medium-sized, deciduous forest tree native to the Americas, but also naturalized in parts of Europe. It features inflorescence with small white blooms that become clusters of dark cherries, edible when pitted. Mature trees have gray-to-black, distinctly crackled bark. The glossy leaves are poisonous to livestock. It is a highly reproductive pioneer species with invasive potential.

European plum vs. Peach: What's The Difference?

Prunus domestica is a small deciduous tree and the most common orchard plum in Europe and other regions of the world. It is a hybrid species that had most likely evolved from the wild Cherry plum, Prunus cerasifera. The fruit is elongated, fleshy, and usually sweet. Dried fruits of european plum are called prunes.

Cherry laurel vs. Peach: What's The Difference?

Cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) is an evergreen species of cherry, commonly cultivated as an ornamental plant. It is a shrub or a small tree with characteristic glossy, dark green leaves with a leathery texture. Leaves and seeds of cherry laurel contain toxic compounds, which can cause serious poisoning if ingested.

Japanese cherry vs. Peach: What's The Difference?

The japanese cherry tradition, called Hanami, where people have picnics and outdoor parties under these trees, is a popular attraction. The excellent spring colors of the Prunus serrulata tree attract butterflies like the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail. Its showy pink and white flowers are in full bloom in early to mid-spring, and some are fragrant.

Common chokecherry vs. Peach: What's The Difference?

Prunus virginiana, commonly known as common chokecherry, is a deciduous small tree or suckering shrub often confused with chokeberry, due to similarities in the looks of their fruits. The fruits of both species are known for their rich antioxidant content. Common chokecherry plays an important ecological role as a larval host for numerous moth species.

Apricot vs. Peach: What's The Difference?

Apricot (Prunus armeniaca) is a fruit-bearing plant species native to Asia. Although the genus name, "Prunus," means plum, the fruits of this tree are actually apricots. The seeds are occasionally used as substitutes for almonds because they share a similar shape and nutty taste. The apricot has been cultivated by humans for centuries, and was even discovered in the remains of ancient Armenian settlements.

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Key Facts About Peach

Attributes of Peach

Lifespan

Perennial

Plant Type

Tree, Shrub

Plant Height

2 m to 8 m

Spread

6 m

Leaf Color

Green

Flower Size

2.5 cm to 3.5 cm

Flower Color

Pink

White

Red

Fruit Color

Red

Gold

Stem Color

Green

Red

Brown

Leaf type

Deciduous

The Toxicity of Peach

Slightly Toxic to Humans

Toxic to Dogs

Toxic to Cats

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Scientific Classification of Peach

Phylum

Vascular plants

Class

Dicotyledons

Order

Roses, elms, figs, and allies

Family

Rose

Genus

Prunus

Species

Peach (Prunus persica)

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Distribution Map of Peach

Peach is a cultivar native to north-central China. Its original habitat is unknown because it has been cultivated for so long. The introduction of this widely popular fruit crop has occurred worldwide, and it now grows in many areas from North America to New Zealand.

Native

Cultivated

Invasive

Potentially invasive

Exotic

No species reported

Learn More About the Peach

A Comprehensive Guide to Peach How to Grow and Care for Peach