Many people know of the sweet, delicious peach and tangerine fruits. However, peaches aren’t only of value as fruit but also in their beautiful flower form. There are a few peach blossom flower meanings of love and romance, fertility, vitality, longevity, spring, good health, and protection.
About the Peach Blossom Flower
The Peach Blossom – Prunus persica – is a member of the 430 species in the Prunus genus. Close relatives include cherries, apricots, plums, almonds, and tangerines.
Peach trees belong to the Rosaceae family, which has an astonishing 4,800 flowering plants in 91 genera of roses.
History and Origin
Peach blossoms date back millions of years, with fossils as old as 2.6 million. These trees are native to China, where it’s figured that they became domesticated sometime around 6000 BC. There are Chinese drawings and writings featuring peaches going back to 1000 BC.
Asia and Mediteranean
Because of the fruit’s sweet juiciness, the popularity of the plants spread throughout Asia and the Middle East. They reached Greece around 300 BC, rumored to be the work of Alexander the Great.
Wall paintings of peach trees have been found preserved in the ashes of Vesuvius. This volcano erupted in 79 AD.
Europe
Peach trees traveled to England and France in the next few centuries. But in the early days of introduction, peaches were only affordable to the rich.
After meals, Queen Elizabeth served napkins wrapped around peaches. By the 1800s, canned goods were popular enough that peaches became common dessert choices.
Americas
Spanish explorers brought peach trees to the Americas in the 1500s before reaching parts of Europe. Thomas Jefferson grew peaches at his home in Monticello, but the trees didn’t become a substantial crop for farmers until the 1800s.
Characteristics
Peach Blossom trees can grow up to 25 feet in width and height with a rounded crown. The dark green waxy leaves form on upward-growing branches.
The trees explode with stunning showy flowers in a single or double arrangement in spring. You can get red, white, and pink colors with a sweet, attractive aromatic.
The trees also produce edible sweet fruits with fuzzy skin – peaches – or smooth-skinned – nectarines once the trees reach seven years of age. They can continue to produce fruit for 15 to 20 years.
Peach Blossom Flower Care
Peach trees require deep, well-draining soil with full sun exposure. They can do well in rocky and dry soil, but they cannot tolerate calcareous ground.
These trees are at risk of insects – thrips, aphids – and diseases – Mediterranean fly, powdery mildew, scab, and most commonly, a peach blister from the Taphrina fungus.
Uses Throughout History
Peaches have been used as a food source for centuries, desired for their flavor and health benefits. In addition, the fruit has high doses of vitamin C and A.
Peachtree flowers are also popular for edible garnishments and salads and brewed into teas.
Other than serving as a source of vitamins, there are other medicinal uses for peachtree blossom. For example, traditional Chinese medicine uses peach stones to treat allergies, works as anti-inflammatories, and improves circulation and blood flow.
Dried leaves from the peach blossom tree can treat coughing, edema, gastritis, morning sickness, bronchitis, and constipation. Peach blossom flower is also shown to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory abilities.
Peach Blossom Flower Symbolism
There are many peach blossom flower symbolisms throughout various cultures. For example, Japanese culture used the branches of peach trees for divining rods.
While Vietnam culture’s plant symbolism associates peach flowers with happiness, spring, victory, and peace, and are a common decoration for Tet or the New Year.
Etymological Meaning
The genus name Prunus is Latin for plum, while Persica means Persia. It was once confused that peaches were native to Iran – Persian plum.
Peaches were once known as malum persicum – Persian apple – in Rome. It changed over time to pêche – French. Then it transitioned to peach – English.
Romance/Love
Because Peach Blossoms are associated with spring, which is the season of romance, they are often used for marriage and love.
Vitality/Longevity
Peach blossoms flower symbolism is often linked with longevity and vitality in many cultures in Asia and China.
Fertility
In Europe, the Peach Blossom tree had associations with fertility, generosity, and celebrating womanhood.
China
In China, the native peach tree connects to the Chinese symbol of love and vitality due to blooming in early spring. In addition, wood from the Peach Chinese tree offers protection from evil spirits.
Putting Chinese flowers branches over doors drives away demons, while peach pits were given to children to wear for protection. And exoticisms required wands made from peach wood.
There are many mentions of the Chinese flower in legends and poems. One Chinese poet – Tao Yuanming – makes a metaphor between utopia and a peach orchard.
And in the religion of Fu Lu Shou, the Chinese plant is the flower symbol of good health and longevity. Many religious arts feature Buddha holding a peach.
Korea
Peaches represent longevity, honor, happiness, and wealth.
Art and Literature
Peaches are symbolic of the heart in Europe. And the leaves symbolize the tongue, meaning to speak from the heart.
Artworks that have featured peaches include Still Life with Peaches, Les Pêches, and Peaches and Almonds by Renoir. Monet, Caravaggio, and Van Gogh also liked to paint peach trees.
Peach Blossom Flower FAQ
Find out more about the Peach Blossom Flower with these commonly asked questions.
When Should You Give Someone a Peach Blossom Flower?
You can give Peach Blossom flowers to wish growth, romance, fertility, prosperity, love, and protection. It’s also a good gift to celebrate spring.
What Does a Peach Blossom Flower Tattoo Represent?
Peach blossom flower tattoos represent generosity, protection, fertility, longevity, love, elegance, beauty, and regeneration after extreme pain.
What Do Peach Blossom Flowers Smell Like?
Peach flowers have a sweet, intoxicating aroma similar to the heady scent of honey.
When are Peach Blossoms in Season?
Peach flowers bloom in early spring, flowering in March and April in temperate climates. The peach blossoms last for around two weeks and then form into fruits that become ripe around mid-summer.
What Pollinators Do Peach Blossom Flowers Attract?
Peach blossom flowers attract many pollinators in early spring, like bees, butterflies, and birds.
Are Peach Blossom Flowers Annuals or Perrenials?
Peach trees flower in early spring, produce fruits by summer and shed all their leaves in winter. The process continues to repeat every year.
Final Thoughts
Appreciate the many symbolic meanings of the Peach Blossom flower and enjoy its bold beauty, heady aroma, and sweet juicy fruit. Plant a Peachtree in your yard to get protection, a source of healthy fruit, and wishes of vitality, good luck, health, love, longevity, or fertility.