Prunus persica 'Encore'
- Description
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'Encore' is a hybrid peach in the rose family (Rosaceae) developed by Rutgers University.
The tree grows 10 to 15 feet tall and wide and requires 800 to 900 chill hours. It does best in full sun in moist, well-drained soil. The tree blooms later in spring, avoiding spring frost problems. It has moderate resistance to leaf spot, leaf scorch and powdery mildew. Here is a pruning guide for fruit from NC State. Here is a guide to pest and disease management from NC State on fruit trees.
The pink fragrant spring flowers of 'Encore' are followed by large, firm and sweet peaches that mature in fall, helping to extend the season. Enjoy them fresh or canned and frozen.
Peaches are grown commercially and in the home edible garden.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Potential disease problems include peach leaf curl, brown rot, bacterial leaf spot and canker. Potential insect problems include peach tree borer, plum curculio, oriental fruit moth, root nematodes, mites and aphids. Very cold winter temperatures and late spring frosts often cause significant damage to the buds/flowers of nectarines.
The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home & Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common diseases. The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home & Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common pests.
VIDEO Created by Laura Barth for "Vegetables, Herbs, Fruits, and Nuts," a plant identification course developed in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Prunus
- Species:
- persica
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Grafting
- Wildlife Value:
- Pollinators are attracted to the flowers. Mammals will eat the fruits.
- Edibility:
- Fruits are edible raw, canned or frozen
- Dimensions:
- Height: 12 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 12 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- High
- Texture:
- Coarse
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12-24 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- > 3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- > 3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- The peach has a red blush over yellow skin and sweet yellow flesh.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Pink flowers in spring occur solitary or occasionally paired with 5 petals and appear before leaf-out. 1-1.5 inches across and pleasantly fragrant.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are 2-6 by 1/2-1.5 inch, alternate, simple with a long-pointed tip, toothed margin and 2 small glands at the base of the blade. Under surface may have a few hairs while the upper surface is smooth. The leaves tend to curl inward along the central vein
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Scaly
- Bark Description:
- The bark is gray with horizontal lenticels and becomes rough and scaly with age.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Young stems are reddish and older stems are gray. New growth at the tips is green and smooth
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Meadow
- Landscape Theme:
- Edible Garden
- Design Feature:
- Flowering Tree
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Small Mammals
- Problems:
- Frequent Disease Problems
- Frequent Insect Problems
