The Latin name of the peach is “Prunus persica” – in English “Persian apple”. For a long time it was believed that the juicy stone fruit came from Persia, now Iran. But his original home is much further east.
Where does the peach originally come from?
The peach (Prunus persica) originally comes from southern China, where it has been around since around 2000 BC. is cultivated. Through trading trips, the peach reached Persia, Greece and later Central Europe, where it is now valued as a fruit tree.
Peach has been known in China for 4000 years
The delicious stone fruit has been cultivated in southern China since 2000 BC. Cultivated. From the evaluations of archaeological excavations we know that the breeding of cultivated peaches from wild varieties began around 6,000 years ago. In China, the peach is still considered a symbol of immortality. The Daoist goddess Xiwangmu lived on the sacred mountain Kunlun, the seat of the gods, where, according to religious legend, three peach groves only bear fruit every few thousand years, giving the gods their immortality.
From Persia to Central Europe
The peach only came to Persia about 1000 years ago. From here, trading travelers brought the sweet fruits first to Greece and then to Central Europe. France was the first European country to cultivate the Chinese “fruit of immortality”. The peach has also been cultivated in Germany since the 19th century.
Old cultivars from Germany
Old peach varieties bred in Germany are ideal for growing in your own garden. These fruits are used to the harsher climate and higher rainfall.
- Anneliese Rudolph (bred near Dresden in 1911)
- Formerly Red Ingelheimer (bred around 1950)
- Proskauer Peach (Silesia, 1871)
- Kernechter from the foothills (Red Ellerstädter, around 1870)
- Pilot (1971)
- Record by Alfter (bred in the 1930s)
- Miracle of Perm (bred in the Urals, brought by German emigrants about 200 years ago)
Main growing areas today
Today, peaches are mainly grown in the warmer regions of the world, with the sweet fruits no longer only coming from China and Central Asia, but also from the USA, Italy, France and southeastern Europe. In Germany, the aromatic stone fruit is mainly cultivated in various wine-growing regions.
- Palatinate
- Baden
- Rhine Hesse
- Dresden Elbe Valley
- Stendal
- Werder
Tips & Tricks
The vineyard peach is also one of the oldest peach varieties in Germany. This rarity is particularly aromatic, but less sweet. The variety is also known under the names Moselle vineyard peach, red or white vineyard peach and vineyard peach.
