Peach
Prunus persica
- Plant Type
- Tree (Deciduous)
- Landscape Layer
- Understory
- Sun
- ☀️ Full Sun, ⛅ Part Sun
- Moisture
- 🏜️ Dry, 💧 Regular
- Soil
- Clay, Loam, Sand, Calcareous
- Bloom
- April, May
- Sociability
- S1 – Solitary / small clusters
Pollinator Value
- 🔑 Keystone
- Genus Prunus supports 407 species of butterflies and moths in the Outaouais ecoregion, making it one of the most important woody genera for Lepidoptera. Four native Prunus species occur locally (P. nigra, P. virginiana, P. pensylvanica, P. susquehanae). As an introduced member of this genus, P. persica shares many of the same foliage-feeding lepidoptera.
S13 407 lepidoptera; native species listed
- 🐛 Larval Host
- Harkenclenus titus, Furcula borealis, Haploa clymene, Hemaris thysbe, Limenitis archippus, Ceratomia amyntor, Scopula limboundata, Paonias myops, Acronicta interrupta, Sphinx kalmiae, Pyrrharctia isabella, Hyles lineata, Limenitis arthemis, Xanthotype sospeta, Papilio glaucus
- ❄️ Winter Food Source
- Prunus fruits and seeds are consumed by at least 37 bird species including Ruffed Grouse, Wild Turkey, Cedar Waxwing, American Robin, and Evening Grosbeak. Persistent dried fruits and pits may remain available into winter. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker feeds on sap from Prunus bark during winter months.
Ecology & Conservation
- Proximity Score
- 2
- Native Status
- ❌ Outaouais ❌ Ottawa ❌ QC ❌ ON
- Closest Direction
- SE
- CEC Eco-Regions
- 8 – Eastern Temperate Forests, 8.1 – Mixed Wood Plains, 8.1.7 – Northeastern Coastal Zone
- Rarity Notes
- Prunus persica is not native to North America and is ranked SNA (Not Applicable) in Ontario. NatureServe assigns a global rank of G5 and a national rank of NNA for both Canada and the United States. Not listed under SARA.
- Rarity Ranks
- QC SNA – Not Applicable, ON SNA – Not Applicable
- Migration
- Stable
- Ecological Context
- Peach is native to northwest China and was introduced to North America as an orchard tree. It occasionally escapes cultivation along roadsides, river alluvium, thickets, and near homesteads, but rarely persists long-term without human management. In the Great Lakes and northeastern states, it is an infrequent waif rather than a naturalized component of the flora.
S7 rarely spontaneous; S10 habitat; S29 origin E. Asia China
Permaculture & Companion Planting
- Roles
- Fortress/Barrier, Pollinator Attractor, Wildlife Habitat
S73/S29/S72 Evidence: Fortress/Barrier: S61 keyword match: thorns? (supporting signal only)] | Pollinator Attractor: S73 [MEDIUM]: S68 22 bee associations (threshold=3)] | Wildlife Habitat: S72 Hemenway (tables: 7-2, 10-1, pp. 116, 149)]
- Notes
- In permaculture and food forest contexts, peach occupies the low tree or understory layer. PFAF notes garlic as a specific disease-prevention companion for peach leaf curl, and tansy planted beneath peach trees promotes overall tree vigor. As a shallow-rooted species, peach benefits from groundcover companions that maintain soil moisture and suppress competition.
Medicinal Properties ℹ
Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any plant for medicinal purposes. The information provided is compiled from secondary sources for educational purposes only.
Click here for more info →
ℹ
Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any plant for medicinal purposes. The information provided is compiled from secondary sources for educational purposes only.
Click here for more info →- Category
- Anthelmintic, Antiemetic, Cathartic, Dermatological Aid, Febrifuge, Gastrointestinal Aid, Kidney Aid, Orthopedic Aid, Sedative, Diuretic, Expectorant
S28 Cherokee, Delaware, Navajo, Rappahannock, Koasati uses; S29 PFAF medicinal categories
- Notes
- Cherokee used bark infusion for vomiting and leaf infusion for stomach ailments and fever. Delaware used leaf infusion to expel pinworms and treat children's vomiting. Rappahannock used leaf infusion for kidney trouble. PFAF reports leaves as astringent, demulcent, diuretic, expectorant, febrifuge, and mildly sedative, used for gastritis, coughs, and bronchitis. Seed contains amygdalin (sometimes called laetrile) which has been controversially promoted for cancer treatment.
S28 Cherokee, Delaware, Rappahannock uses; S29 leaf and seed medicinal properties
Edibility & Foraging ℹ
Never ingest a plant unless you have 100% certainty of its identity and have consulted multiple reputable sources. The information provided in the Localeaf Plant Database is compiled from secondary sources for educational and historical purposes only.
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ℹ
Never ingest a plant unless you have 100% certainty of its identity and have consulted multiple reputable sources. The information provided in the Localeaf Plant Database is compiled from secondary sources for educational and historical purposes only.
Click here for more info →✅ Edible ✅ Commonly Eaten
- Foraging Notes
- Peach fruit is eaten raw, cooked, dried, or preserved. Indigenous peoples including the Cherokee, Iroquois, Hopi, and Navajo used peaches fresh and dried for winter storage; the Iroquois made fruit cakes and sauces from dried peaches. The seed kernel is edible in small quantities but may contain high levels of hydrogen cyanide and should not be consumed if bitter. Flowers are edible raw in salads or brewed as tea.
S28 15 food uses across multiple nations; S29 fruit, flowers, seed edibility
- Toxicity
-
☠️ High Toxicity
Seeds contain amygdalin which can release hydrogen cyanide (HCN) upon hydrolysis. The toxin is detectable by bitter taste; seeds should not be consumed if strongly bitter. Leaves also contain amygdalin at concentrations up to 10,000 ppm. In small quantities HCN stimulates respiration, but in excess can cause respiratory failure and death. The ripe fruit flesh is non-toxic.
S29 HCN in seeds; S31 amygdalin in leaf up to 10000 ppm and seed 25500-60000 ppm
Seed Source
- Remi