Prunus persica: Country Or Region Of Origin
China
Plant Profile: Prunus persica
Taxonomy: Prunus persicaNames
Nectarine, Peach
Phonetic Spelling:PROO-nus per-SE-kah
Genus:Prunus
Species:persica
Family:Rosaceae
A deciduous fruit tree featuring numerous cultivars that yield exceptional fruit.
**Pests, Diseases, and Other Plant Issues:** Vulnerable to peach tree borers.
**Toxic Parts:** Wilted leaves, stems, and seeds.
**Toxicity Transmission:** Through ingestion.
**Edibility:** The fruit can be consumed either raw or cooked.
**Toxicity Level:** HIGHLY TOXIC; ingestion can be FATAL!
**Habitat:** Commonly found in landscapes and orchards as a cultivated fruit tree.
Prunus persica Feature Summary
Tags
#deciduous
#wildlife plant
#flowering tree
#fruit tree
#edible fruits
#edible garden
#fantz
#larval host plant
#edible
#fruits
#butterfly friendly
#problem for cats
#ebh
#ebh-fn
#pollinator garden
#problem for dogs
#problem for horses
#eastern tiger swallowtail butterfly
Similar Plants
Prunus persica Feature Summary
Attributes
This is a larval host plant to Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus). You may see three flights from February-November in the deep south and two flights from May-September in the north.
Fruit edible raw or cooked
Woody
Edible fruit
Fruit
juicy fleshy fruit in summer dark maroon with a large, rough pit (stone). Fruit edible raw or cooked
Summer
Flowers
White, pink, red flowers juicy fleshy fruit in summer dark maroon with a large, rough pit (stone)
Pink
White
Gold/Yellow
Red/Burgundy
Leaves
2 to 4 in. alternate, simple leaves, long-pointed, toothed on the margin, with 2 small glands at base of blade
Deciduous
Green
Simple
Alternate
1-3 inches
Poisonous to Humans
Gasping, weakness, excitement, pupil dilation, spasms, convulsions, coma, respiratory failure Stems, leaves, seeds contain cyanide, particularly toxic in the process of wilting: brick red mucous membranes, panting, shock.
Cyanogenic glycoside, amygdalin
High
Seeds
Leaves
Stems
Whole Plant Traits
Edible
Tree
Poisonous
Deciduous
Spreading
Open
Rapid
Medium
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Good Drainage
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
9a
9b
Stem
Landscape
Butterfly Garden
Pollinator Garden
Butterflies
Pollinators
Problem for Cats
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Prunus persica Image Gallery
Prunus persica Attributes
Prunus persica: Wildlife Value
This is a larval host plant to Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus). You may see three flights from February-November in the deep south and two flights from May-September in the north.
Prunus persica: Edibility
Fruit edible raw or cooked
Prunus persica: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Prunus persica: Play Value
Attractive Flowers
Attracts Pollinators
Buffer
Colorful
Defines Paths
Easy to Grow
Edible fruit
Fragrance
Pieces Used in Games
Screening
Shade
Sound
Textural
Wildlife Cover/Habitat
Wildlife Food Source
Wildlife Larval Host
Wildlife Nesting
Wind Break
Wind Shimmer
Prunus persica Fruit
Prunus persica: Fruit Description
juicy fleshy fruit in summer dark maroon with a large, rough pit (stone). Fruit edible raw or cooked
Prunus persica: Display/Harvest Time
Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter
Prunus persica Flowers
Prunus persica: Flower Description
White, pink, red flowers juicy fleshy fruit in summer dark maroon with a large, rough pit (stone)
Prunus persica: Flower Color
Gold/Yellow
Pink
Red/Burgundy
White
Prunus persica Leaves
Prunus persica: Leaf Description
2 to 4 in. alternate, simple leaves, long-pointed, toothed on the margin, with 2 small glands at base of blade
Prunus persica: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Prunus persica: Leaf Color
Green
Prunus persica: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Prunus persica: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Prunus persica: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Prunus persica: Leaf Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Prunus persica Poisonous to Humans
Prunus persica: Poison Symptoms
Gasping, weakness, excitement, pupil dilation, spasms, convulsions, coma, respiratory failure Stems, leaves, seeds contain cyanide, particularly toxic in the process of wilting: brick red mucous membranes, panting, shock.
Prunus persica: Poison Toxic Principle
Cyanogenic glycoside, amygdalin
Prunus persica: Poison Severity
High
Low
Medium
Prunus persica: Causes Contact Dermatitis
No
Yes
Prunus persica: Poison Part
Bark
Flowers
Fruits
Leaves
Roots
Sap/Juice
Seeds
Stems
Prunus persica Whole Plant Traits
Prunus persica: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Prunus persica: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Prunus persica: Habit/Form
Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping
Prunus persica: Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Rapid
Prunus persica: Texture
Fine
Medium
Coarse
Prunus persica Cultural Conditions
Prunus persica: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Prunus persica: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Prunus persica: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
5a
5b
6a
6b
7a
7b
8a
8b
9a
9b
Prunus persica Stem
Prunus persica: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Prunus persica Landscape
Prunus persica: Landscape Theme
Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden
Prunus persica: Attracts
Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees
Prunus persica: Problems
Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy
