Prunus persica 'Late Red'

Prunus persica 'Late Red' is a flowering peach that blazes with double red flowers. As the name implies, it blooms later than most P. persica.

Large flowers envelop the tree in May or June, depending on the region, so it's a good choice for areas prone to late frosts. But the main attribute of 'Late Red' is its huge, double, deep-red flowers.

"The flowers are a good four to five times larger than other peach trees," said Brandi Czaja, sales representative at L.E. Cooke Co. in Visalia, Calif. "It puts on a beautiful show."

Many of its cultural requirements are similar to other peach trees. 'Late Red' works well in the landscape paired with earlier-flowering varieties such as 'Early Red.'

"It blooms about three to four weeks after 'Early Red,' so both varieties can provide a season of color," she said.

Flowers, not fruit

'Late Red' is hardy in USDA Hardiness Zones 5-9. It grows best in full sun with good drainage, Czaja said. It's strictly an ornamental tree -- the fruit it bears is inedible.

It typically grows 20 feet high and wide, she said.

"But I've seen them get up to 40 feet or higher in California," she said. "They can be kept at any size with the proper pruning."

'Late Red' also can be used for cut flowers, she said.

Chill 'Late Red'

L.E. Cooke grows flowering peaches in the field and grafts them in spring.

"You can graft them on to any peach seedling root stock," she said.

'Late Red' has a chilling requirement of 500-600 hours compared to 300 hours for 'Early Red.' L.E. Cooke sells bare-root flowering peaches ranging from 5/16th-inch caliper up to 1 1/2-inch caliper, she said.

Like any other P. persica, watch for borers and peach leaf curl, although it won't adversely affect an ornamental tree, she said.

Other late bloomers

'White Icicle' is another late-flowering peach with bright, white flowers. It also requires 500-600 chilling hours. 'Helen Borchers' has pink flowers with dark-pink centers. It grows well in colder climates like 'Late Red,' but also grows well in milder climates such as inland Southern California, said Ron Ludekens, vice president at L.E. Cooke.

'Peppermint' is aptly named for its white and red flowers. "But occasionally the tree might throw a solid red branch," Ludekens said. "This is something we carefully cut out of our scion wood orchards to be consistent in providing a variegated tree as opposed to a solid-red tree, but it sure looks nice from a distance when a solid red branch or two does happen to appear in a predominantly white tree."

Specifics

Name: Prunus persica 'Late Red'

Common name: 'Late Red' flowering peach.

Description: Ornamental flowering peach with large, double, red flowers. Averages 20 feet high and wide.

Hardiness: USDA Hardiness Zones 5-9.

Propagation: Grafting in spring.

For more: L.E. Cooke Co., 26333 RD 140, Visalia, CA 93292; (800) 845-5193; fax (559) 732-3702.

- Kelli Rodda