Prunus davidiana
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Rosales
Family:	Rosaceae
Genus:	Prunus
Subgenus:	Prunus subg. Prunus
Species:	P. davidiana
Binomial name
Prunus davidiana Carrière
Synonyms[3]
Amygdalus davidiana Persica davidiana Prunus persica var. davidiana Prunus sibirica var. davidiana (Carrière) Y.L.Chou[2]

Prunus davidiana^[4][5][6][3] (syn. Amygdalus davidiana,^[1] Persica davidiana,^[1][4] Prunus persica var. davidiana)^[1] is a species in the genus Prunus in the family Rosaceae. It is also known by the common names David's peach^[1][5] and Chinese wild peach.^[1] It is native to China, preferring to grow in forests and thickets, on slopes in mountain valleys, and in waste fields, from 800 to 3200 m.^[4][5] It is resistant to frost, and to a number of pests and diseases of cultivated peach, and is the subject of many studies for the genetic improvement of peaches.

Description

Deciduous, upright tree.^[4][5]

• Height and Spread: Reaches a maximum height and spread of 9 m (30 ft) by 9 m (30 ft).^[5]
• Branches: Young branches whippy, upright,^[5] and smooth.^[4]
• Bark: smooth, dark purplish-red
• Leaves: Dark green,^[5] glabrous leaves are lanceolate-narrow ovate in shape, ranging in length from 5–12 cm (2–5 in).^[4] Leaf point is long and slender, tapering to a point;^[4][5] leaf margins finely toothed.^[4][5] Petioles are glandular.^[4]
• Inflorescences: Flowers in late winter-early spring^[5] or in February.^[4]
  • Flowers: 2.5 cm (1 in) wide^[4] and white to pale pink^[5] to rosy^[4] in color.
  • Pedicels: Very short.^[4]
• Fruit: Yellow, furry, edible.^[5]

Cultivation

Fully hardy. Prefers full sun.^[5] In China it is largely used as an ornamental, and the fruit is eaten but not prized. In peach growing regions throughout the world it is used as a source of rootstocks.^{[citation needed]}

Varieties

• P. davidiana var. alba has white flowers.^[4]
• P. davidiana var. rubra has deep rosy-colored flowers.^[4]

Etymology

Prunus is the ancient Latin name for plum trees. Davidiana is named for L'Abbé Armand David (1826-1900), a missionary and collector of Chinese plants.^[7]