Prunus persica
Peach, Peach
(c) Yair Haklai, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Rosaceae · Type: Tree · Not Native
Prunus persica (Peach) is a non-native California tree in the Rosaceae family, recognized by large acuminate leaves, dark pink solitary flowers, and large velvety fruits.
Peach is a naturalized tree found in southern California coastal areas, Sierra Nevada foothills, and Santa Catalina Island along roadsides, canyons, and chaparral areas at elevations below 1,300 meters. Flowering in March, this tree produces dark pink flowers 10 to 17 millimeters long that emerge before its leaves. Growing 3 to 10 meters tall with a deciduous habit, the tree has an upright, non-thorny structure. Its leaves are oblong to lanceolate, 70 to 150 millimeters long with finely serrated edges and a tapered base. The fruit is a large, velvety peach 40 to 80 millimeters long, ranging from yellow to orange with red tinges and featuring a fleshy, edible pulp.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 7 sympatric species; key features are large acuminate leaves, dark pink solitary flowers, and large velvety fruits
Habitat and range
Habitat: Roadsides, canyons, chaparral as waif
Elevation: < 1300 m
California counties: Los Angeles, Fresno, San Bernardino, Tulare, Orange, Ventura, San Diego, El Dorado, Placer, Butte, Siskiyou, Santa Barbara, Monterey, Yolo, San Luis Obispo, Lake
Outside California: probably native to eastern Asia
Bloom period
Prunus persica blooms Mar.
How to tell it apart
vs Quercus: Prunus has simple leaves with fine teeth; oak leaves are lobed or have coarse rounded teeth.; vs Rhamnus: Prunus has fleshy fruits with single hard pits; buckthorn has berry-like fruits with multiple seeds.; vs Malus: Prunus fruits have a single hard pit; apple fruits have a papery core with multiple seeds.; vs Frangula: Prunus has cup-shaped flower base that falls off; alder buckthorn has persistent berry-like fruit base.; vs Pyrus: Prunus produces single-pitted drupes; pear produces pome fruits with papery seed chambers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Prunus persica native to California?
No. Prunus persica is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Prunus persica bloom?
Prunus persica blooms Mar.
Where in California does Prunus persica grow?
Prunus persica occurs in Los Angeles, Fresno, San Bernardino, Tulare, Orange, Ventura, San Diego, El Dorado and other counties, at elevations of < 1300 m.
What plant family does Prunus persica belong to?
Prunus persica is in the Rosaceae family, genus Prunus.
What habitat does Prunus persica grow in?
Prunus persica grows in Roadsides, canyons, chaparral as waif.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.