Peach Tree Varieties

Peach tree is a species of Prunus and is native to China. The scientific name of peach tree is Prunus persica and it belongs to the family, Rosaceae. Peach tree is basically a deciduous tree of medium height that produces an edible fruit, which is also known by the same name, i.e. peach. The fruits usually have white or yellow colored flesh, surrounded by a velvety or smooth skin. The flesh may or may not stick to the stone and accordingly, cultivated peaches can be clingstones and freestones. On an average, peach trees can reach a height of 4 to 10 m. However, there are a number of peach cultivators available in the market and some of them are dwarf varieties. Out of the various dwarf peach trees, the most popular are the Red haven and Elberta dwarf peach tree.

It not only bear the tasty and highly nutritious peaches, but also produces beautiful and fragrant pink blossoms in the spring, which is another reason for growing this tree in many yards and for landscaping purposes. If you are also considering, to grow these trees, then you can choose from a number of varieties. However, it should be kept in mind that these trees grow well in a limited range, mainly because they have a chilling requirement and they are not very cold-hardy. Usually, they can withstand temperatures to around 26 to 30 degree Celsius.

Types of Peach Trees

The peach trees that are considered best are, Elberta peach tree, Red Haven peach, Cresthaven peach, O'Henry peach, Garden Gold peach and Honey babe.

Elberta Peach Tree
Elberta peach is considered by many as one of the best varieties of peach tree. It can be found as a common fruit tree in many gardens and yards. The tree is basically popular for its sweet, juicy, freestone fruits and the attractive, fragrant pink or red rose blossoms. The fruits are large and they can be eaten raw. They are also excellent for canning and freezing. The skin of the fruit is golden-yellow in color with a red blush. The hardiness zone is 5 to 9. The tree is quite resilient and is resistant to many common diseases. It does not need pollinator, i.e. it is self pollinating. The tree is however, not drought resistant and so care must be taken to protect it from dryness.

Cresthaven Peach Tree
It usually reaches a height of 8 to 14 feet at maturity and bears firm and highly colored freestone fruits. The flesh of the fruits are golden-yellow colored with a smooth skin. The fruits are ideal for canning and freezing. The USDA hardiness zone for this plant is 5 to 9. It grows well in full sun and well-drained sandy loam soil. It blooms in late April and the harvest time is late August. Pruning is another important requirement of cresthaven peach tree. This tree is very tolerant to cold and frost and requires hot weather, especially during the growing season. Generally, the plant produces fruits within 3 to 5 years.

Red Haven Peach Tree
Red haven is a highly adaptable variety, which is cold hardy and can resist many plant diseases. The fruits are large and luscious with creamy yellow flesh. They are ideal for eating raw or for canning and freezing. The plant usually produces fruits at 3 to 4 years of age. The tree requires well-drained soil to grow properly. The ideal soil pH for growing this tree is 5.5 to 7. It needs hot weather during the growing season. Regular fertilization and pruning are some other growth requirements. This tree cannot tolerate extreme winter and frost. It can however, tolerate heat and humidity. It usually reaches a height of 15 to 30 feet.

O'Henry Peach
O'Henry is a strong and heavy bearing peach tree, and its fruits are known for their wonderful flavor. The peaches are large, firm and freestone with white or yellow flesh. The fruits are very sweet and juicy. The tree usually produces fruits at 3 to 4 years of age. It however needs, well-drained sandy soil, regular fertilization and pruning, along with hot weather during the growing season. The tree generally attains a height of 15 to 30 feet. The USDA hardiness zone for this tree is 6 to 9.

Garden Gold Peach
Garden Gold is a vigorous peach tree, that bears soft, freestone fruits. On an average, the fruit is about the size of a fist, and is golden-yellow in color with a slight red blush. The fruits ripen in August. The USDA hardiness zone for this plant is 6 to 9. The tree usually grows up to a height of 5 to 6 feet and it prefers full sun and well-drained soil. Regular pruning is required to thin out the inner branches, so that the inner part can get enough sunlight. The tree is a dwarf variety of peach tree and is ideal for planting in a container as well.

Honey Babe Peach
It is a dwarf variety that grows very slowly, but bears fruits quite early. The fruits are sweet, firm and freestone with an excellent flavor. The flesh is usually orange-colored, while the skin is yellow colored with a deep red blush. The fruits ripe in mid July. For ensuring better growth of the plant, light pruning is required. The ideal time for pruning the tree is winter and summer. USDA hardiness zone for this tree is 6 to 8.

You can also find some other varieties like Donut peach, Harken peach, Loring peach and Polly White peach to name a few. Usually, they grow well in well-drained soil and they prefer full sun. The ideal soil pH for growing peach tree is approximately 6.5. They usually does not need pollinators. Pruning is a very important part of its care as one needs to thin out the inner branches each year, so as to ensure that the inner portion of the tree receives adequate sunlight. The trees bearing fruit would also require regular watering, if there is not adequate rainfall. Usually, fruit bearing trees would require 1 inch of water per week. If you observe that the tree is bearing more fruits than what it can actually hold, then thin the crop to improve the quality of the fruits.