Facts on the Peach Blossom Flower

History

• Peach trees are believed to have originated in China based upon genetic studies. There the peach was considered the fruit of royalty. Ancient Chinese writings, some dating as far back as 1081 BC, refer to peach cultivation. And, Chinese art throughout the centuries has featured the peach blossom. From China, the peach made its way to India and western Asia. After conquering the Persians, Alexander the Great introduced the peach to Europe. By 300 BC, the peach tree had made its way Greece. It was eventually brought to America by Spanish monks in 1571. Despite their presence in early America, they were not commercially grown until the 19th century in Delaware, Maryland, South Carolina, Virginia and Georgia. On March 9, 1895, the peach blossom was adopted as Delaware’s floral emblem, and in 1953 it became the state flower.

Freeze Susceptibility

• Peach blossoms are susceptible to freezes, especially in areas that can experience late frosts. Most peach blossoms can freeze at temperatures below 25 degrees Fahrenheit. Covering trees with tarps or trash bags can help to save blossoms.

Pollination

• Most peach blossoms are self-pollinating and do not require other trees. Just a few peach tree cultivars are not self-pollinating. Two of these include “J.H. Hale” and “Chinese Cling.”

Diseases

• The peach tree is susceptible to many diseases, but the blossoms are directly affected only by a couple. Brown spot (Monilinia fructicola) is a fungal infection resulting in blossom blight. The first indication that a tree has brown spot is the rapid death of blossoms in the spring. The blossoms first turn brown followed by becoming attached to the twig by a gummy substance. Later, spores produced by the fungus form a grayish to tan mass. The fungus then moves to the shoot where it causes shoot blight. Another disease affecting the peach blossom is peach leaf curl (Taphrina deformans). As the name suggests, this disease causes the leaves of the peach tree to curl, but infected blossoms drop off.

Pests

• Although most pests don’t attack the peach blossom directly, some pests can prevent a peach tree’s ability to bloom. In large numbers scale insects and peach tree borers can reduce the number of peach blossoms. Peach tree borers cause the tree to lose its vigor, eventually decreasing the number of blossoms produced. One borer called the shothole borer will bore into the base of the bud, preventing it from blooming. Lecanium scale insects can kill smaller branches, reducing the number of blossoms and making the tree more prone to disease. Keeping the pests away helps to ensure healthy peach blossoms.