Looking for a stunning addition to your garden that will provide an early spring show? Look no further than the Prunus davidiana, also known as David Peach or Chinese Wild Peach. This deciduous flowering tree typically grows to 20-30 feet tall, with a rounded habit that is perfect for ornamental purposes.
What really sets this tree apart is its showy bloom of single, five-petaled, whitish flowers (approximately 1 inch in diameter). These flowers appear before the leaves in late winter to early spring, typically in March but earlier in milder climates. This early blooming time means that your garden will be one of the first to display a stunning array of flowers each year.
In addition to their beauty, these flowers are also followed by globose, furry, yellow fruits that are typically dry and tasteless. They are for all practical purposes inedible, but the seed is used in China as a flavoring in confectionery and some special dishes. Though these seeds contain prussic acid and should be used in moderation, they have long been used medicinally as an analgesic, anticoagulant, antiasthmatic, and more.
Not only is the Prunus davidiana a lovely tree to look at, but it also has excellent winter hardiness and is sometimes used as a rootstock for edible peaches. This tree is native to China and was introduced to France in 1865 by French Jesuit missionary and naturalist Jean Pierre Armand David.
With its stunning early spring blooms and unique medicinal properties, Prunus davidiana is the ideal tree for gardeners looking for something a little out of the ordinary. Add this tree to your garden and enjoy its beauty and benefits for years to come.
