What Is the Lifespan of a Peach Tree?

Beautiful peaches on a healthy peach tree.

Often seen in the spring flowering with beautiful pink or pink and white flowers, the peach tree is a wonderful sight to behold. The interest in growing your own peach tree passes through many people's minds. Knowing how to grow it, how long will it take to fruit, how long it live and how to care for it are essential in taking on the project.

Features

Growing up to heights of 25 feet or more, bearing silky pink, slightly sweet flowers and long green leaves, the peach tree is definitely loved by all who own or grow one. Most peach tree owners love when their tree flowers, giving a show of a full set of delicate pink flowers, and then when harvest time comes and it bears lots of fresh, sweet peaches.

Types

Where you live will make the difference in what kind of peach tree you may want to plant. You should base your decisions also on the tree's hardiness, disease resistance and its quality of fruit. Cresthaven, Frost Peach and the Polly White Peach can stand some of the cooler temperatures. The O'Henry Peach and the Garden Golden Peach need slightly warmer temperatures to thrive well.

Time Frame

In most instances, peach trees will live anywhere from eight to fifteen years, depending on the climate where they are planted, the soil they are planted in and their care. Most peach trees will mature somewhere between the ages of four and ten years of age and produce an "average of three bushels" of peaches per picking season.

Warnings

Protecting your peach tree from pests, such as the peach tree borer which is known to attack the trunks of peach trees, is very important. Using a insecticide that is specified to prevent tree borers is recommended before an attack occurs. Also preventative sprays used during the peach tree's dormant stage for brown rot and bacterial spots are suggested to help keep your tree healthy during its normal flowering and fruiting stages.

Fun Fact

The peach's scientific name, Persica, was based on the area the peach was thought to have first came from, which is now Iran now, and used to be called Persia. It has been found recently that the peach actually originated from China dating as far back as the tenth century. The peach was not introduced to the United States until sometime during the seventeenth century.

References

• University of Missouri Extension: Peach & Nectarine Culture
• Nature Hills Nursery: Peach Trees
• Garden Action: Peach Tree Growing
• Prunus Persica: Peach