About

The so-called Prunus persica is a deciduous tree indigenous to Northwest China. There is was first domesticated and cultivated for its fruit. The description ‘persica’ refers to the popularity of the tree in Persia when it was introduced there. The tree’s fruit is usually sweet and juicy and it is called peach or nectarine.

The peach belongs to the genus Prunus (just like the cherry, apricot, almond and plum) and the rose family. Together with the almond, the peach also belongs to the subgenus Amygdalus, because of its hard and corrugated seed shell.

Commercially, peaches and nectarines are sold as different products, but they are actually the same species.