Peach and Nectarine Varieties for Northern Climates

Peach and Nectarine Varieties for Northern Climates

​Peaches and nectarines are native to China but were introduced to Florida by the Spanish in the 1500s. Peaches and nectarines belong to the Prunus genus, the same as plums and apricots. The scientific name (genus and species) of the peach is Prunus persica, while nectarines are derived from a natural mutation in peaches that allows them to grow without the fuzz found on peaches. Nectarines, therefore, have the same scientific genus and species name as peaches. Although peaches and nectarines grow best in warm climates, several peach varieties are suitable for growing in zone 4, where I live. However, I have yet to find a nectarine ideal for growing in zone 4. Most peaches and nectarines are self-pollinating and therefore do not need another nearby tree to produce fruit. There are a few peach varieties that do recommend a pollinator. Because nectarines lack the fuzz that peaches have, they are more susceptible to disease and insect predation. The fuzz acts as a protective barrier for peaches. Therefore, nectarine trees may need more fungicide and insecticide sprays than peach trees.

Special Note: Peaches and nectarines can have yellow or white flesh. It has been found that white-fleshed varieties are lower in acid (higher pH) than the yellow-fleshed varieties and therefore should not be canned due to the increased risk of botulism. See the NCHFP site on canning peaches for more information.

Peaches

Variety	Zones	Pollination	Best Usage	Fruit Ripens	Diseases	Notes
Avalon Pride	4/5-8	Self-pollinating	Fresh eating, pies, preserves, or poaching	Early August	Some resistance to peach leaf curl	Yellow flesh; semi-freestone
Baby Crawford	5-9	Self-pollinating	Fresh eating, desserts, canning, drying, pies, and preserves	Late July-early August		Yellow flesh; freestone
Belle of Georgia or Georgia Belle	4/5-9	Self-pollinating	Fresh eating, cooking, desserts, pies, and preserves (not canned)	Late	Resistant to bacterial spot and slightly resistant to brown spot	White flesh; freestone; Seedling of Chinese Cling
Betty Peach	5	Self-pollinating	Fresh eating, preserves, or freezing	End of August	Susceptible to peach leaf curl	Semi-freestone
Black Boy	5-9	Self-pollinating	Fresh eating and preserves	Late season	Resistant to peach leaf curl	Yellow flesh; related to Peche de Vigne the black peach of France
Blazingstar	5	Self-pollinating	Fresh eating; grilling	Mid-late summer	Resistant to bacterial leaf spot	Freestone; yellow flesh; non-browning; stores and handles well
Blushingstar	4/5	Self-pollinating	Fresh eating	Midsummer	Resistant to bacterial spot	White flesh; freestone; non-browning
Bounty	5-9	Self-pollinating	Fresh eating, baking, canning, and jam	Mid-late August	Resistant to bacterial spot	Yellow flesh; freestone; stores less than one month
Canadian Harmony	5	Self-pollinating	Fresh eating, canning, or baking	Mid-late August		Yellow flesh; freestone
Carolina Belle or NCT13333	5-8	Self-pollinating	Fresh eating, baking, freezing, and jam/jelly (not canned)	Mid-August	Susceptible to bacterial spot	White flesh; freestone; stores less than one month; improved version of Belle of Georgia
Carolina Gold or NC98-83	4-8	Self-pollinating	Fresh eating, baking, canning, freezing, jam/jelly	Mid-September	Resistant to bacterial leaf spot	Firm, yellow flesh; freestone; stores less than one month
Challenger or NC-C3-68	5-9	Self-pollinating	Fresh eating, baking, canning, freezing, and jam/jelly	Mid-August	Resistant to bacterial spot	Yellow flesh; freestone; stores less than one month; improved Reliance peach, a Redhaven cross
China Pearl	4-8	Self-pollinating	Fresh eating, baking, freezing, jam/jelly (not canned)	Early September	Resistant to bacterial leaf spot	White flesh; stores less than one month
Contender	3/4-7/8	Self-pollinating	Fresh eating, baking, canning, jam, and freezing	Mid-August	Resistant to bacterial leaf spot; susceptible to peach leaf curl	Freestone; firm, yellow flesh; resists browning; stores less than one month
Crimson Lady	5-9	Self-pollinating	Fresh eating, baking, canning, freezing, and jam	Mid-July		Yellow flesh; clingstone
Early Elberta	5	Self-pollinating	Canning	Late June-early August		Yellow flesh
Early Redhaven	5	Self-pollinating	Fresh eating, canning, freezing, desserts, jam, and pies	July-August		Yellow flesh; freestone to semi-clingstone
Fay Elberta	5-9	Self-pollinating	Fresh eating, desserts, pies, canning, and preserves	Late summer		Freestone; yellow flesh
Frost	5	Self-pollinating	Fresh eating and cooking	Mid-season	Resistant to peach leaf curl	Yellow flesh; semi-freestone
Galactica	5-9	Self-pollinating	Fresh eating and freezing	Early to mid-August	Susceptible to bacterial spot, brown rot, blossom blight, and fruit rot	White flesh; donut-shaped; stores less than one month
Galaxy	5-9/10	Self-pollinating	Fresh eating	Mid-August		White flesh; semi-clingstone
Garnet Beauty	4/5	Self-pollinating	Fresh eating	Late July		Clingstone; yellow flesh; a sport of Redhaven
George IV	5-10	Self-pollinating	Fresh eating, desserts, pies, and preserves (not canned)	Early season		Freestone; white flesh; stores a few weeks
Glowingstar	4/5	Self-pollinating	Fresh eating	Mid-September	Resistant to bacterial spot	Freestone; yellow flesh
Harken	5-9	Self-pollinating	Fresh eating and canning (pick before fully ripe)	Mid-to-late season	Resistant to brown spot	Yellow flesh; freestone
HW 272	5	Self-pollinating	Fresh eating	August	Resistant to peach leaf curl	Yellow flesh; freestone
Indian Blood	5-9	Requires a pollinator	Fresh eating, pickles, pies, preserves, canning, and desserts	Mid-season		Clingstone; red flesh; stores a few weeks
Indian Free	5-9	Requires a pollinator	Fresh eating, fruit leathers, chutneys, and preserves (not canned)	Mid-to-late season	Resistant to peach leaf curl	White flesh; freestone; sport of Indian Blood
Intrepid	4-8	Self-pollinating	Freh eating, baking, canning, freezing, jam/jelly	Mid-to-late August	Resistant to bacterial spot	Yellow flesh; freestone; developed from Reliance ; stores less than 1 month
Kit Donnell	5-9	Self-pollinating	Fresh eating, canning, pies, and preserves	Mid-season		Yellow flesh; freestone
Lars Anderson	5	Self-pollinating	Fresh eating	Early season		Freestone; yellow flesh
Lovell	4	Self-pollinating	Canning, drying, and processing	August?		Yellow, firm flesh; freestone; now mostly used as a disease-resistant, cold-hardy rootstock for peaches, plums, nectarines, and apricots
Madison	4/5-7	Self-pollinating	Fresh eating, canning, and freezing	Late August		Freestone; orange-yellow flesh; peels easily
Mary Jane	5	Self-pollinating	Fresh eating, canning, drying, and freezing	Mid-season		Yellow flesh
Monroe	5-9	Self-pollinating	Fresh eating, baking, canning, freezing, and jam/jelly	Mid-September	Susceptible to bacterial spot	Yellow, firm flesh; freestone; stores less than one month
Nanaimo	5	Self-pollinating	Fresh eating	Mid-season	Resistant to peach leaf curl	Yellow flesh; freestone
Nectar	5-10	Self-pollinating	Fresh eating, desserts, pies, and preserves (not canned)	Early to mid-season		Freestone; white flesh; stores a few weeks
Norman	5-9	Self-pollinating	Fresh eating, baking, canning, freezing, and jam/jelly	Mid-August	Resistant to bacterial spot	Yellow flesh; freestone; stores less than one month
O Henry	5-9	Self-pollinating	Fresh eating, pies, desserts, canning, and preserves	Late season		Freestone; yellow flesh; stores a few weeks
Peentau	5-10	Self-pollinating	Fresh eating, desserts, pies, and preserves (not canned)	Early season		White-flesh; donut-shaped; stores a few weeks
Peregrine	5-10	Self-pollinating	Fresh eating, desserts, pies, and preserves (not canned)	Mid-season		White peach; stores a few weeks; fruit often light green even when ripe; easy to grow; little fuzz
PF 5D Big	5-8	Self-pollinating	Fresh eating, baking, canning, freezing, and jam	Mid-July	Very resistant to bacterial spot	Yellow flesh; semi-freestone; stores less than one month
PF 19-007	4-8	Self-pollinating	Fresh eating, baking, canning, freezing, and jam	Late August	Resistant to bacterial spot and brown rot	Yellow flesh; freestone; stores less than one month
PF 24-C	4-8	Self-pollinating	Fresh eating, baking, canning, freezing, jam	Late August	Resistant to bacterial spot	Yellow flesh; stores less than one month; better quality and size fruit than Reliance and Madison
PF 28-007	5-8	Self-pollinating	Fresh eating, baking, canning, freezing, and jam	Early to mid-September	Very resistant to bacterial spot	Yellow flesh; freestone; stores less than one month
Polly White	5-9	Self-pollinating	Fresh eating, desserts, pies, and preserves (not canned)	Very late season		Freestone; white flesh; stores a few weeks
Redhaven or Red Haven	4/5-8/10	Self-pollinating	Fresh eating, canning, freezing, desserts, jam, and pies	Early to mid-August	Resistant to/tolerant of bacterial spot; susceptible to peach leaf curl	Yellow non-browning flesh; semi-freestone; ships well; needs thinning; ripens over 6-week period; stores less than one month
Reliance	3/4-7	Self-pollinating	Fresh eating, canning, and baking	Late July	May be somewhat resistant to peach leaf curl	Freestone; yellow flesh; very cold hardy
Rubyprince or Ruby Prince	5-9	Self-pollinating	Fresh eating, baking, canning, freezing, and jam	Mid-late July	Susceptible to bacterial canker	Yellow flesh; clingstone; stores less than one month
Salish Summer or Q-1-8	5	Self-pollinating	Fresh eating, smoothies, and preserves (not canned)	Late July-early August	Very resistant to leaf curl	Semi-freestone; white flesh
Saturn	4/5	Self-pollinating	Fresh eating and drying	Early to mid-season	Resistant to leaf spot	Semi-freestone; white flesh; donut-shaped
Siberian C Seedling	3		Fresh eating, juicing, and drying	Early September	Resistant to brown rot and pests	White flesh; tends to be hard; also used as a cold-hardy rootstock
Silver Logan	5-10	Self-pollinating	Fresh eating, desserts, pies, and preserves (not canned)	Mid-season		White flesh; freestone; stores a few weeks
Souvenirs or Ark. 763	5-9	Self-pollinating	Fresh eating	Mid-August	Very resistant to bacterial spot; susceptible to brown rot, blossom blight, and fruit rot	Yellow, firm flesh; freestone; stores up to 3 weeks
Sugar Giant	5-9	Self-pollinating	Fresh eating and freezing	Late August	Susceptible to bacterial spot	White firm flesh; freestone; stores less than one month
Sugar May	5-9	Self-pollinating	Fresh eating and freezing	Late July	Susceptible to bacterial spot	White flesh; clingstone; stores less than one month
Suncrest	5-9	Self-pollinating	Fresh eating, desserts, pies, canning, and preserves	Mid-season		Freestone; yellow flesh; firm but juicy; stores a few weeks
Sureprince or Sure Prince	5-8	Self-pollinating	Fresh eating, baking, canning, freezing, and jam	Early August	Resistant to bacterial canker; somewhat resistant to bacterial spot	Yellow flesh; semi-clingstone; stores less than one month; needs thinning
Sweet Bagel	5	Self-pollinating	Fresh eating	Late-season		Yellow flesh; donut-shaped
Tri Lite Peach/Plum		Self-pollinating but will set more fruit if planted with a pollinator	Fresh eating	Early season	May have some resistance to peach leaf curl	Cross that is peach and Japanese plum; white flesh; clingstone
Veteran	5-9	Self-pollinating	Canning, drying, and freezing	Mid-season		Yellow flesh; freestone; Early Elberta cross
White Lady	5-9	Self-pollinating	Fresh eating, drying, and preserves (not canned)	Early season		White flesh; freestone; stores well
Whitewater or Ark. 856	5-9	Self-pollinating	Fresh eating	Late July	Resistant to bacterial spot; susceptible to brown rot, blossom blight, and fruit rot	White, coarse flesh; freestone; stores less than one month

 

Nectarines

Variety	Zones	Pollination	Best Usage	Fruit Ripens	Diseases	Notes
Amoore Sweet or Ark. 765	5-9	Self-pollinating	Fresh eating, baking, canning, jam, and freezing	Early August	Good resistance to bacterial spot; susceptible to black rot, blossom end rot, and frogeye leaf spot	Clingstone; yellow flesh; stores less than 1 month
Arctic Queen	5-9	Self-pollinating	Fresh eating, desserts, pies, and preserves (not canned)	Late season		White flesh; stores a few weeks
Eastern Glo or Early Glo	5-8	Self-pollinating	Fresh eating, jam, baking, and freezing	Late July	Resistant to bacterial spot	Clingstone; yellow flesh; stores less than 1 month
Effie or Ark. 805	5-9	Self-pollinating	Fresh eating, baking, freezing, or jam (not canned)	Mid-August	Resistant to bacterial spot; susceptible to brown rot, blossom blight, and fruit rot	Clingstone; white flesh; stores less than 1 month
Fantasia	5-9	Self-pollinating	Fresh eating, jam/jelly, baking, desserts, pies, canning, and freezing	Mid to Late August	Susceptible to bacterial spot	Freestone; yellow flesh; stores less than 1 month
Flavortop	5-8	Self-pollinating	Fresh eating	Early August	Very susceptible to bacterial spot	Freestone; yellow flesh
Goldmine	5-10	Self-pollinating	Fresh eating, desserts, pies, or preserves (not canned)	Late season		Freestone; white flesh
Hardired	5-7	Self-pollinating	Fresh eating, canning, and freezing	Mid-August	Tolerant of bacterial spot and brown rot	Freestone; yellow flesh
Independence	5-10	Self-pollinating	Fresh eating, desserts, pies, preserves, and canning	Early season		Freestone; yellow flesh
Kreibich	5	Self-pollinating	Fresh eating, preserves, pickles, or chutney (not canned)	Mid-summer	Resistant to peach leaf curl	White flesh
Maria s Gold	5-9	Self-pollinating	Fresh eating	August		Golden skin and flesh
Morton	5	Self-pollinating	Fresh eating, baking, and preserves (not canned)	Mid-Late Summer	Resistant to peach leaf curl	Semi-freestone; white flesh
Ozark Mango	5-9	Self-pollinating	Fresh eating, baking, canning, jam, and freezing	Early August	Resistant to bacterial spot	Clingstone; yellow-orange flesh; stores less than 1 month
Pacific Pride	5	Self-pollinating	Fresh eating	Mid-Late Summer	Resistant to peach leaf curl	Seedling from Kreibich; stores well; white flesh
Raspberry Red	5-9	Self-pollinating	Fresh eating	August		Freestone; red flesh; cross of red flesh peaches with white nectarines
Sauzee King	5-9	Self-pollinating	Fresh eating	August		White flesh; donut-shape; thinning recommended
Snow Queen	5-10	Self-pollinating	Fresh eating, desserts, pies, and preserves (not canned)	Very early season		Freestone; white flesh
Speckled Egg	5-8	Self-pollinating	Fresh eating	Early August		Large fruit with yellow flesh

 

References and Resources

1. Cummins Nursery. All Nectarine Trees. https://www.cumminsnursery.com//buy-trees/index.php?type=tree&year=2026&category=nectarine
2. Cummins Nursery. All Peach Trees. https://www.cumminsnursery.com/buy-trees/index.php?type=tree&year=2026&category=peach
3. Fedco Seeds. Peaches. https://fedcoseeds.com/fruits/peaches
4. Jung Seed Company. Peach & Nectarine. https://www.jungseed.com/category/662
5. Peaches-Halved or Sliced. National Center for Home Food Preservation. https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/can/canning-fruits-and-fruit-products/peaches-halved-or-sliced/
6. Raintree Nursery. Nectarine Trees. https://raintreenursery.com/collections/nectarines/
7. Raintree Nursery. Peach Trees. https://raintreenursery.com/collections/peach-trees
8. Trees of Antiquity. Nectarine Trees: prunus persica. https://www.treesofantiquity.com/collections/nectarine-tree
9. Trees of Antiquity. Peach Trees: prunus persica. https://www.treesofantiquity.com/collections/peach-trees