Peach, Prunus persica, is the fuzzy, juicy stone fruit called aadu in Hindi. Despite its name, which recalls Persia, it was domesticated in China. In India peaches grow in Himachal, Uttarakhand and Kashmir, and low-chill varieties are grown in the plains of Punjab. The nectarine is a smooth-skinned peach of the same species.
- Botanical name
- Prunus persica (L.) Batsch
- Family
- Rosaceae
- Tamil
- Peach
- Hindi
- Aadu
- Parts used
- Ripe fruit
- Habit
- Peach; almond is a cousin, not this fruit
- Last updated
- 2026-10-27
How to recognise Peach
It is a small deciduous tree with long, narrow, pointed, finely toothed leaves.
Pink flowers appear on bare branches in early spring.
The fruit is a round drupe with a velvety skin, yellow to red, and a deeply pitted stone.
Apricot has smoother fruit and a smooth stone, and almond has a dry, inedible husk around the nut.
Clingstone peaches have flesh that sticks to the stone, while freestone flesh comes away cleanly.
Traditional use of Peach
Kitchen
Peaches are eaten fresh, canned, made into jams and desserts, and dried.
Global food practice
Chinese tradition
In China the peach is a symbol of long life.
Chinese tradition
Himachal orchards
Peaches are a summer fruit of Himachal valleys, sold along hill roads and sent to plains markets.
Himachal horticulture
Modern notes on Peach
Peaches provide vitamin C, fibre and carotenoids.
Breeders in Punjab and elsewhere have developed low-chill varieties that fruit in the plains.
Peach safety
Do not eat peach kernels, which contain amygdalin. Peach allergy is common, especially to the skin.
Ecology and sourcing
It originated in north-west China and spread west along trade routes.
It flowers early and is vulnerable to spring frosts.
Bees pollinate its flowers.
Peach trees are short-lived compared with apples, often productive for fifteen to twenty years.
Related plants
Also in Rosaceae
Questions about Peach
Is a nectarine a peach?
Yes, a smooth-skinned form of the same species.
Where are peaches grown in India?
In the Himalayan states and, with low-chill varieties, in Punjab.
What older names does Prunus persica go by?
Amygdalus persica.
How do I ripen a peach?
Leave it at room temperature until it smells fragrant and yields slightly, then refrigerate.
Why does peach fuzz itch?
Some people are sensitive to the fine hairs or to allergens in the skin.
Sources
- Prunus persica (L.) Batsch — Plants of the World Online, Kew (search) (accessed 2026)
- Wikidata item Q13189 (Prunus persica)
Educational page about a plant. It is not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and not an offer to sell. Traditional use is historical. If you need care, ask a licensed clinician. Questions: hello@meevamed.com.