Wild Texas Peach Seeds

Wild Peach - Southwestern Seed Strain Grown in Michigan

One of the great mysteries of life is how some of the best tasting fruits are often ignored or forgotten because they do not fit into the commercial fruit market. Such is the case with this peach. Yet one bite and soon you find yourself not as enamored with the other glorious varieties of peaches. The introduction of this peach into North America really got its start from the Navaho long before there was even orchards in the United States. The Spaniards brought peaches with them and some naturalized and were later bred and transported by the Native Americans. Today there are still some wild peaches in Texas and probably Mexico where the pits were discarded long ago. I was fortunate to get a few of those from another arboretum owner who knew of a few, the late John Fairey. I only had one plant of it but that was enough. 

Besides the tart flavor, the values are no disease, insects with heavy fruiting and cold hardiness to minus 20 F.  It is true to seed and may be another form of peach related to the northern forms of peaches in China. The tree itself has hard wood and so far has exhibited a more moderate growth habit unlike most peach seedlings which are usually super vigorous.  An Instagram user mentioned to me they look a lot like winter peaches in Austria and are called vineyard peaches. Some believe these white peaches are the peaches distributed by the Romans long ago. Even the pits are different and look much like an almond. 

To germinate the pits: Buff down the sutre on the side of the pits to aid in first year germination. Give cold and moist dormancy for 60-90 days at 34F to 38F. Seeds will sprout easily in the refrigerator so be careful not to use too much moisture and be prepared to take them out before letting them get too far. Those that do not sprout the first year, put back into room temperature until the following winter and repeat the procedure. This allows the germplasm to mature fully and the remaining will then sprout and grow.