Desert Gold Peach Prunus persica 'Desert Gold' Height: 20 feet Spread: 20 feet
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Hardiness Zone: 6b Other Names: Common Peach Description: A heavy bearing, vigorous selection, covered in rose-pink flowers in early spring; features flavorful, juicy yellow peaches with a red blush; semi-freestone; tolerates heat and humidity; needs full sun and well-drained soil Edible Qualities Desert Gold Peach is a large shrub that is typically grown for its edible qualities. It produces yellow round fruit (technically 'drupes') with a red blush and yellow flesh which are usually ready for picking in early summer. Note that the fruits have hard inedible pits inside which must be removed before eating or processing. The fruits have a sweet taste and a firm texture. The fruit are most often used in the following ways: Features & Attributes Desert Gold Peach is smothered in stunning clusters of fragrant pink flowers along the branches from late winter to early spring, which emerge from distinctive rose flower buds before the leaves. It has dark green deciduous foliage. The glossy narrow leaves turn yellow in fall. The fruits are showy yellow drupes with a red blush, which are carried in abundance in early summer. The fruit can be messy if allowed to drop on the lawn or walkways, and may require occasional clean-up. This is a multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with a more or less rounded form. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition. This plant will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration; Aside from its primary use as an edible, Desert Gold Peach is sutiable for the following landscape applications; Planting & Growing Desert Gold Peach will grow to be about 20 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 20 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 3 feet from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 40 years or more. This is a self-pollinating variety, so it doesn't require a second plant nearby to set fruit. This shrub is typically grown in a designated area of the yard because of its mature size and spread. It should only be grown in full sunlight. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.
