Nursery / Tree
Prunus persica

Peach Tree

Fast-fruiting stone fruit selected for regional disease resistance - among the quickest fruit trees to reward a new planting, often bearing within two to three years.

Peach Tree

Peach rewards patience less than almost anything else we grow. Where a pawpaw or chestnut asks you to wait years for a first real harvest, a peach tree can produce meaningfully within two to three years of planting, making it a strong choice for anyone who wants to see and taste results relatively soon.

The tradeoff is that peach demands more active management than most of our other fruit trees - annual pruning, and in humid climates like ours, real attention to disease pressure. We select varieties bred with regional disease resistance to reduce that burden, but this is not a plant-and-forget tree the way pawpaw or mulberry can be.

Common questions

Before you plant.

  • How long until it fruits?Often within two to three years, among the fastest of any fruit tree we sell.
  • Do I need two trees?No. Peach is self-fertile and will produce fruit on its own.
  • Is it a lot of work?More than most of what we sell, honestly. Annual pruning and some disease monitoring in humid summers are part of growing peach well here.
  • Why does it need full sun specifically?Fruit quality and disease resistance both depend heavily on full sun exposure - a shaded peach tree will underperform and be more disease-prone.
  • How long does a peach tree live?Typically 12 to 20 years, shorter than most fruit trees, which is why many growers plant a replacement every decade.
  • Do I need two trees?No. Most peaches are self-fertile.

    • Planting & Growing Information

    Ships as
    1-gallon, 3-gallon, bare-root in season
    Hardiness zone
    5-9
    Mature height
    10-15 ft
    Water needs
    Moderate to high, especially during fruit development
    Sun / shade
    Full sun, essential for fruit quality
    Bloom season
    Early spring, pink flowers before leaf-out
    Care
    Annual pruning, monitor for disease pressure in humid conditions
    Attributes
    Self-fertile, fast to fruit, requires more active management than most fruit trees
    Ships to
    Most US states. We do not currently ship live plants to California, Arizona, Hawaii, or Florida due to state agricultural restrictions. Local pickup is available in Great Falls, Virginia.
    Plants that pair well

    Good company
    for your peach tree.

    Apple Tree
    Apple Tree
    A similarly sun-loving tree for a mixed backyard orchard.
    Yarrow
    Yarrow
    Attracts predatory insects that help manage pest pressure on nearby fruit trees.
    Currant Bush
    Currant Bush
    A shorter fruiting companion that fills the space at the drip line without competing for sun.
    Peaches

    The quickest fruit tree
    to reward a new planting.

    A peach tree can bear within two to three years, which makes it the fastest way to put real tree fruit on the table.

    The trade-off is attention. In a humid Mid-Atlantic summer, peaches face brown rot and leaf curl, so we choose varieties with better regional disease resistance and give honest guidance on care.

    A tree-ripened peach, picked warm, is nothing like a supermarket peach. That is the reason to grow one.

    • Disease-resistant varietiesSelected for better tolerance of leaf curl and humidity.
    • Early, mid and late ripeningChoose a spread to stretch the harvest.
    • Bare-root trees in seasonDormant trees at planting time, often the best value.
    • Current stockInventory varies by season and batch. Contact us to confirm what is available now, and in what size.

    What to know before you buy

    Peaches bloom early, so late frosts can take a crop. Plant on a slope or high spot where cold air drains away.

    Prune every year in late winter to an open center. Peaches fruit on the previous year's growth.

    Thin young fruit to about 6 to 8 inches apart in spring for larger peaches and less breakage.

    A dormant spray in late winter is the standard treatment for peach leaf curl.

    Sizes and formats

    What we ship.

    Plants ship in the dormant seasons, late fall and early spring, with local pickup in Great Falls. Availability changes by batch, so ask if you need a particular size.

    Peach Tree
    Peach Tree
    Prunus persica
    Self-fertile peach selected for regional disease resistance. Often bearing in two to three years.
    Food bearingPollinatorTree
    Available as: 1-gallon, 3-gallon, bare-root in season
    Wholesale and bulk

    Planting at scale.

    We supply landscapers, nurseries, farms and larger residential projects with peach tree in quantity. Stock is seasonal and limited, so get in touch ahead of your planting window and we will plan around your order.

    Ask about wholesale →
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    Full Nursery Catalog
    Full Nursery Catalog

    Planning an orchard, guild or garden around this plant? An on-site consult in the DC area starts at $250, a written Remote Strategy at $1,500, or start small with a free guide.