Peach / nectarine
Prunus persica
A cultivated tree with narrow toothed leaves and juicy stone fruit. Peaches have fuzzy skins; nectarines are smooth-skinned forms of the same species. Fruit flesh is eaten fresh or cooked.
Native range
China; cultivated in many temperate regions.
Typical season
Broad Ontario summer reference. Urban trees need suitable conditions and may not crop every year.
Identification
Compare flowers, narrow leaves and fruit with Prunus persica. Discard the stone and never eat, grind or blend the kernel; it contains cyanogenic compounds. A planting label helps establish the cultivar and expected ripening window.