Prunus persica Spring Glow - Ornamental peach tree

The Flowering Peach or Prunus persica 'Spring Glow' forms an upright, spreading shrub or small tree with a rounded crown. It produces young leaves of a rich coppery red like photinias, and soft pink single flowers in early spring on bare branches. The foliage turns olive green in summer, while a new wave of reddish-purple young leaves is ready to emerge. In autumn, it colours itself with burgundy red and golden orange. This variety produces mildly flavoured fruits.

The Prunus persica or Prunus x persicoides 'Spring Glow' belongs to the Rosaceae family. It is an interspecific hybrid between Prunus dulcis (cultivated almond tree) and Prunus persica (peach tree). Prunus persica is a species native to Shanxi, a province in northern China and Mongolia. Prunus dulcis is derived from the Caucasian almond, called Prunus fenzliana, a shrub native to Armenia, Turkey, and Iran. The hybrid peach tree 'Spring Glow' reaches a height of 3 to 5 m and a width of 2 to 3.5 m at maturity. It is a small deciduous shrub with a spreading habit, a somewhat rounded canopy, and arched branches as they age and become heavier. In March-April, numerous soft pink single flowers appear along the branches, honey-scented, with a diameter of 5-6 cm. They give rise to small, edible, fuzzy-skinned wild peaches in September-October. The fruit is small, dark purplish-red, spherical, similar to a peach, but its flesh is dry and not very flavourful. The leaves are narrow, elliptical, pointed, slightly dentate on the edges, measuring 12 to 15 cm long.

Plant the 'Spring Glow' Flowering Peach in well-drained soil that must be slightly acidic, neutral, or slightly alkaline. This small shrub requires a sunny location. Very hardy, it should nevertheless be protected from strong winds, which could quickly deprive you of its magnificent flowering. It tolerates pruning after flowering, into a ball or cube shape; its silhouette can easily be shaped according to personal inspiration. Treat against peach leaf curl at leaf fall and bud burst in spring.

The Prunus persica 'Spring Glow' will be planted as a specimen in a small garden or in association with other ornamental trees or shrubs that, like it, flower in the early days of spring: Prunus mume, Prunus cerasifera, Prunus triloba, Prunus x amygdalopersica (larger), Prunus tenella, and Prunus x cistena (dwarf). There is no shortage of choices among these flowering prunus trees that will create an enchanted setting along a sunken alley. Note that its once established resistance and hardiness allow it to be grown in various situations.