North Carolina State University has long had a commercial peach breeding program, but every now and then, a seedling emerges that may not have store quality fruit, but has instead good ornamental traits. Two of my favorites from their program are below. The first is Prunus persica ‘NCSU Dwarf Double Red’. I first saw this amazing plant when I was in school there in the 1970s. Maturing around 10′ tall x 12′ wide, it looks like a giant azalea on steroids when it bursts into flower in mid-March (NC). Interestingly, it comes completely true from seed.
The second ornamental from the program are the Corinthian Peaches, introduced by Dr. Dennis Werner in 2001. These fascinating creations form a tight column, also flowering in mid-March (NC). In our trials, these also come rather true from seed as well. While both produce edible peaches, they aren’t the size or quality one would typically expect. There are five cultivars (colors) in the series. What they don’t possess in edibility, they more than make up for in beauty and form for the early spring garden.
Many species of Prunus are self sterile, one of my favorites is a pluot, with no partner is a superior white flowering tree. Stunning when in flower, I have a peach tree for the same purpose. Adds dimension to the garden . Denny always had a good eye and some of his creations are outstanding.
Thanks for bring this up
The dounle red is beautyful – wonder if it manage minus 15 degrees in winter?
You didn’t mention if you are asking about F or C. Typically, most Prunus persica is fine to -15 F.
I can attest to “NCSU Dwarf Double Red” surviving perfectly fine in sustained –12°F in MA zone 5b/6a. I have one planted at our current home, one at our previous home a couple miles away, and one at our old neighbors’ home. All relatively mature now. While they all survived unscathed after that bitterly cold spell during our previous winter, they didn’t bloom. Nothing in the Prunus genus blooms here when it gets that cold, particularly as late as it did in the winter season. It made for a very boring spring. Thankfully, this past winter was mild, and all Prunus once again burst forth in bloom.