Seasonal Wild Flowers

Latin name

Prunus persica

Family

Rosaceae

Flowering season

March to April

English distribution

It is grown throughout the country in gardens and

orchards.

Naturalised escapes are scattered throughout the country

but are more common in southern areas.

See the BSBI distribution map for Peach

Habitat

It is a neophyte, which has been grown in the UK for more

than a 1000 years, but was only recognised as naturalised

in the wild in the 1950s.

The escape is found on tips, brown field sites and waste

ground.

Description

Peach is a deciduous tree growing up to 6m.

The flowers are up to 3.5cm, sessile and appear before

the leaves.

There are 5 reddish-pink petals.

The 5 sepals are pink and covered in hairs.

There are numerous stamens with pink filaments.

Anthers start off purple and darken.

The pollen is bright yellow.

The style and the stigma are yellow, and appear

after the stamens.

The fruit is a fleshy peach, up to 7cm across.

Leaves are lanceolate ovals, up to 15 cm and

stalked.

New twigs in spring are green and turn red during

the year.

Older branches are greyish-brown.