Prunus persica

Taxonomy and growth

Family

Rosaceae

Genus

Prunus

Life cycle

perennial

Foliage

deciduous

Woodiness

woody

Height

6 m

Spread

6 m

Fertility

self fertile

Flower type

hermaphrodite

Pollinators

Bees

Uses

Edible uses

Fruit - raw, cooked or dried for later use^{[1][9][19][21]}. The fruit is often used in ice creams, pies, jams etc^[6]. When fully ripe, the fruit of the best forms are very juicy with a rich delicious flavour[K]. Wild trees in the Himalayas yield about 36.5kg of fruit a year^[8]. The fruit of the wild form contains about 5.2% sugars, 2% protein, 1.6% ash. Vitamin C content is 2.3mg per 100g^[8]. The fruit is a good source of vitamin A^[12]. Fruits of the wild peach are richer in nutrients than the cultivated forms^[8]. The size of fruit varies widely between cultivars and the wild form, it can be up to 7cm in diameter and contains one seed^[11]. Flowers - raw or cooked. Added to salads or used as a garnish^[6]. They can also be brewed into a tea^[6]. The distilled flowers yield a white liquid which can be used to impart a flavour resembling the seed^[6]. Seed - raw or cooked. Do not eat if it is too bitter, seed can contain high concentrations of hydrocyanic acid. See the notes above on toxicity. A semi-drying oil is obtained from the seed^[22]. Although the report does not mention edibility it can be assumed that it is edible. The seed contains up to 45% oil^[14]. A gum is obtained from the stem. It can be used for chewing^[23].

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

Antihalitosis^[8]. The leaves are astringent, demulcent, diuretic, expectorant, febrifuge, laxative, parasiticide and mildly sedative^[13][14]. They are used internally in the treatment of gastritis, whooping cough, coughs and bronchitis^[16]. They also help to relieve vomiting and morning sickness during pregnancy, though the dose must be carefully monitored because of their diuretic action^[13]. The dried and powdered leaves have sometimes been used to help heal sores and wounds^[13]. The leaves are harvested in June and July then dried for later use^[20]. The flowers are diuretic, sedative and vermifuge^{[20][13][5][8][14]}. They are used internally in the treatment of constipation and oedema^[16]. A gum from the stems is alterative, astringent, demulcent and sedative^{[20][13][5][8][14]}. The seed is antiasthmatic, antitussive, emollient, haemolytic, laxative and sedative^{[20][13][5][8][14]}. It is used internally in the treatment of constipation in the elderly, coughs, asthma and menstrual disorders^[16]. The bark is demulcent, diuretic, expectorant and sedative^[20]. It is used internally in the treatment of gastritis, whooping cough, coughs and bronchitis^[16]. The root bark is used in the treatment of dropsy and jaundice^[14]. The bark is harvested from young trees in the spring and is dried for later use^[20]. The seed contains 'laetrile', a substance that has also been called vitamin B17^[14]. This has been claimed to have a positive effect in the treatment of cancer, but there does not at present seem to be much evidence to support this[K]. The pure substance is almost harmless, but on hydrolysis it yields hydrocyanic acid, a very rapidly acting poison - it should thus be treated with caution^[14]. In small amounts this exceedingly poisonous compound stimulates respiration, improves digestion and gives a sense of well-being^[16].

Material uses

A green dye can be obtained from the leaves^[4]. Yellow according to another report^[17]. A dark grey to green dye can be obtained from the fruit^[4]. A semi-drying oil is obtained from the seed^[22]. It is used as a substitute for almond oil in skin creams^[16]. The bruised leaves, when rubbed within any container, will remove strong odours such as garlic or cloves so long as any grease has first been fully cleaned off^[20]. A gum obtained from the stem is used as an adhesive^[23].

Environment

Range

E. Asia - China.

Habitat

Not known in a truly wild situation, it is possibly derived in cultivation from P. davidiana.

Light

full sun

Shade tolerance

no shade

Water

moderate

Hardiness

Zone 5+

Soil textures

sandy, loamy, clay

Soil pH

acid, neutral, alkaline

Drainage

well drained

Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil

No

Drought

intolerant

Propagation

Cultivation

Requires a well-drained moisture retentive soil^[1][2]. Thrives in a loamy soil, doing well on limestone^[2]. Best not grown in acid soils. Prefers some chalk in the soil but it is apt to become chlorotic if too much is present^[1]. Prefers a pH in the range 6 to 7^[11]. Succeeds in light shade but fruits better in a sunny position^[2]. Requires shelter from north and north-east winds^[2] and also from spring frosts^[11]. Widely cultivated for its edible fruit in warm temperate areas and continental climates, there are many named varieties^[6]. There are numerous divisions of the varieties according to skin colour etc. Perhaps the most useful from the eaters point of view is whether it is free-stone (the flesh parts easily from the seed) or cling-stone (the flesh adheres to the seed)[200, K]. Trees are normally hardy in southern Britain^[2], tolerating temperatures down to about -20°c when they are dormant^[7], but they require some protection if cropping is to be at all reliable^[2]. This is not due so much to lack of cold hardiness, more to the cooler summers in Britain which do not fully ripen the wood and the fruit, plus the unpredictable winters and springs which, in a mild spell, can excite the tree into premature flowering and growth which is then very liable to damage in any following cold spell. Hand pollination at this time can improve fruit-set^[11]. The cultivar 'Rochester' is more likely than most cultivars to succeed outdoors in Britain^[11]. In general it is best to site peaches in a very warm sheltered sunny position, preferably against a south or west facing wall^[11][15]. Most cultivars are self-fertile^[11]. Trees are often grafted onto plum or other rootstocks but are said to be better when grown on their own roots in southern Britain^[2]. Trees are not generally long-lived^[11], this is partly because of the need for the tree to produce a constant supply of new wood since most fruit is formed on one-year old wood (though some fruit spurs are formed)^[11]. Garlic is a good companion for this plant, helping to prevent disease, especially peach leaf curl^[10][12]. Tansy grown below peach trees helps to keep them healthier^[12]. Peach leaf curl can also be prevented by protecting the plants from winter and early spring rains, perhaps by covering them in plastic^[11]. Plants grown or overwintered indoors do not suffer from leaf curl^[18]. Most members of this genus are shallow-rooted and will produce suckers if the roots are damaged^[16]. Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus^[11].

Related plants

• Prunus alabamensisAlabama Cherry
• Prunus alleghaniensisAllegheny Plum
• Prunus americanaAmerican Plum
• Prunus americana lanata

References

1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

   ↩1↩2↩3

2. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

   ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8

3. Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0942375009

   ↩1↩2↩3

4. Grae. I. Nature's Colors - Dyes from Plants. MacMillan Publishing Co. New York. 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-02-544950-8

   ↩1↩2

5. Yeung. Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, Los Angeles 1985-00-00

   ↩1↩2↩3

6. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

   ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

7. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Shrubs. Pan Books 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30258-2

   ↩

8. Parmar. C. and Kaushal. M.K. Wild Fruits of the Sub-Himalayan Region. Kalyani Publishers. New Delhi. 1982-00-00

   ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

9. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

   ↩

10. Riotte. L. Companion Planting for Successful Gardening. Garden Way, Vermont, USA. 1978-00-00 ISBN 0-88266-064-0

    ↩

11. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9↩10↩11↩12↩13↩14↩15

12. Allardice.P. A - Z of Companion Planting. Cassell Publishers Ltd. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-304-34324-2

    ↩1↩2↩3

13. Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

14. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8

15. Grey-Wilson. C. & Matthews. V. Gardening on Walls Collins 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-00-219220-0

    ↩

16. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

17. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩

18. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Conservatory and Indoor Plants Volumes 1 & 2 Pan Books, London. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-330-37376-5

    ↩

19. Harrison. S. Wallis. M. Masefield. G. The Oxford Book of Food Plants. Oxford University Press 1975-00-00

    ↩

20. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

21. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩

22. Schery. R. W. Plants for Man.

    ↩1↩2

23. Howes. F. N. Vegetable Gums and Resins. Faber

    ↩1↩2

24. Frohne. D. and Pf�nder. J. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Wolfe 1984-00-00 ISBN 0723408394

    ↩