Description
Growth & Care
| USDA Plant Hardiness Zone | 6b |
| Growth Rate | Average |
| Recommended Pruning Method | Late Winter Pruning |
| Fruit Tree Pollinator Requirement | Better With Pollinator |
Foliage
| Foliage Type | Deciduous |
| Fall Color | Yellow |
| Plant Form | Round |
Flowers
| Flower Period | Winter, Spring |
| Flower Color | Pink |
| Flower Fades To | Shell Pink |
| Flower Fragrance | High |
Additional Categories
| Additional Category | Peach |
| Landscape Application | Accent, Shade, Orchard |
Details
Planting & Growing
Panamint Nectarine will grow to be about 15 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 15 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 3 feet from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 40 years or more. While it is considered to be somewhat self-pollinating, it tends to set heavier quantities of fruit with a different variety of the same species growing nearby.
This tree is quite ornamental as well as edible, and is as much at home in a landscape or flower garden as it is in a designated edibles garden. It should only be grown in full sunlight. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.
Features & Attributes
Panamint Nectarine is bathed in stunning clusters of fragrant hot pink flowers along the branches from late winter to early spring that fade to shell pink over time, which emerge from distinctive rose flower buds before the leaves. It has dark green deciduous foliage. The narrow leaves turn yellow in fall. The fruits are showy crimson drupes with hints of gold, which are carried in abundance in mid summer. The fruit can be messy if allowed to drop on the lawn or walkways, and may require occasional clean-up.
This is a deciduous tree with a more or less rounded form. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition. This plant will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration:
Messy, Insects, Disease
Aside from its primary use as an edible, Panamint Nectarine is sutiable for the following landscape applications:
Accent, Shade, Orchard/Edible Landscaping
Edible Qualities
Panamint Nectarine is a small tree that is commonly grown for its edible qualities, although it does have ornamental merits as well. It produces crimson round fruit (technically 'drupes') with hints of gold and gold flesh which are usually ready for picking in mid summer. Note that the fruits have hard inedible pits inside which must be removed before eating or processing. The fruits have a sweet taste and a juicy texture.
The fruit are most often used in the following ways:
Fresh Eating, Cooking, Baking, Preserves, Canning
