Rose Princess Nectarine

Despite the widely-held myth (‘fake news’) that a nectarine is a cross between a peach and a plum, it isn’t. It is simply a peach with a mutated gene that makes the skin smooth instead of fuzzy. For people who love peaches, with their distinctive aroma and flavors, but hate that fuzz, nectarines are a gift made in heaven. If you also enjoy sweet white-fleshed peaches, and stones that slip out easily, then the Rose Princess Nectarine is absolutely the one for you. The yellow skin is almost completely obscured by a deep pink blush over most of the fruit when it is ripe. Once you take a bite you will know this is no plum, but a delicious peach, with all the wonderful feel in the mouth, extra sweet with just a touch of tang, and distinctive ‘peachy’ flavors. Completely self-pollinating, and also beautiful in spring when in bloom, you can grow this tree right in your flower garden, it will look just perfect. Ripe by the middle of July, it is ready for full summer pleasure. The fruits last at least 2 weeks in the fridge when ripe, so you can enjoy your crop for all the best weeks of summer.

Growing the Rose Princess Nectarine

Size and Appearance

The Rose Princess Nectarine is a deciduous tree that grows to 20 or 25 feet tall, and up to 15 feet wide, but which is usually kept smaller with regular pruning. The leaves are around 6 inches long, and 2 inches wide, glossy, with a smooth surface and a pointed tip. Flowers open around the beginning of April, on bare branches, and they are large, over 1-inch across, with pink petals forming a bowl. A tree in bloom is very attractive. This tree is self-fertile, so a single tree produces a full crop.

The fruits begin to develop quickly as the tree spreads its leaves, starting green and gradually becoming yellow as they grow. By mid-July they will be ripening, and the yellow flesh becomes covered with orange-red areas, and then flushed with deep pinky red. Until almost no yellow remains visible. By then the fruit will be ripe – it will yield slightly to a firm touch – and ready to harvest. The flesh is firm, moist and juicy, with exceptional sweetness and just a touch of tang. The extra sweetness of white-fleshed nectarines is sure to be appealing to even the youngest child. The flavor is delicious and complex, and guaranteed to please everyone. The creamy-white flesh just begs to be bitten into, and as this is a freestone variety you can easily cut it in half, pop out the stone, and slice it for salads or baked goods. Blend it into summer smoothies, or just enjoy eating a ‘peach’ without eating fuzz.

Using the Rose Princess Nectarine in Your Garden

With the beauty of its large blooms, and its attractive leaves, the Rose Princess Nectarine is perfect for the lawn, even in a flower garden. You don’t need a specialized area, but of course it would be perfect in a home orchard. It can also be grown as an espalier, spread out on a south-facing wall, and this is ideal in cooler zones, as it helps ripen the fruit properly.

Hardiness

The Rose Princess Nectarine will grow in warm, sheltered spots in zone 5 all the way into zone 8. It needs around 850 chilling hours, when temperatures are below 45 degrees but above freezing. This means it can be grown successfully as far south as a line drawn through the middle of Texas and the middle of Georgia. Further south there will not be enough cold in winter for the flowers to develop properly. Check your local area for your exact average chilling hours.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

Full sun and a warm location are best for the Rose Princess Nectarine. It will grow in most well-drained soils, but not in wet ground. Lighter, sand and loam soils are preferred. Established trees are moderately drought tolerant, but dry periods before harvesting can affect the crop, so soak your tree from time to time if the weather is dry.

Maintenance and Pruning

Like other peach and nectarine trees, there is the potential for pest and disease issues. In the home garden, though, these are rarely too serious, and can be controlled with gentle methods such as our Neem Oil Spray. Once your tree is established, begin to prune and train it. Aim to develop an open, bowl-like arrangement of the branches, without a central stem, and with several main stems radiating out from the top of a short trunk. Shorten back the growths of the previous year that develop on these branches, to encourage fruiting spurs to form. Keep the center of the bowl open so that the sun penetrates to ripen the fruit. As the young fruits develop, remove some so that just one is left in each cluster. This will keep the fruit large, otherwise you will have a crop of many small fruits that are mostly stone.

History and Origin of the Rose Princess Nectarine

The peach and nectarine are both Prunus persica, a tree that probably originated in northwest China. The beautiful blossoms, on bare branches, are often featured in classic Chinese art. Nectarines were being grown in England in 1616, and probably date back centuries in China. They were grown in America prior to the Revolutionary war. We know nothing about the origin of the nectarine called ‘Rose Princess’. There is also a peach called ‘Rose Princess’, discovered in 2006 and patent protected, but it has yellow flesh and fuzzy skin. Unfortunately the same name should not be given to closely-related plants, but this seems to have happened here.

Buying the Rose Princess Nectarine at the Tree Center

White-fleshed nectarines are rare, but perfect for those who love that delicious sweetness they have. The Rose Princess Nectarine is a beautiful tree, and carries a heavy crop of delicious fruit at the perfect time of year. Order your tree now – our stock is limited for this rare variety – and enjoy the thrill of harvesting home-grown fruit right outside your window. Nothing can beat it.