Nectarine tree care

Nectarines (*Prunus persica* var. *nucipersica*) are genetically peaches with a recessive gene that suppresses fuzz on the skin. They are not a cross between a peach and a plum, nor a distinct species. Their culture is essentially identical to peaches, with one important difference: nectarines have.

Nectarines (Prunus persica var. nucipersica) are genetically peaches with a recessive gene that suppresses fuzz on the skin. They are not a cross between a peach and a plum, nor a distinct species. Their culture is essentially identical to peaches, with one important difference: nectarines have thinner skin, which makes them even more susceptible to brown rot and cracking than fuzzy peaches.

In humid-summer climates east of the Rockies, this increased susceptibility is a meaningful practical constraint. Per Penn State Extension, nectarines in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast require more diligent brown rot management than peaches in equivalent conditions.

This guide is sourced from Penn State, Clemson, and UC IPM publications.

Relationship to peaches

Per Penn State Extension, nectarines and peaches are the same species (Prunus persica). The smooth skin of nectarines results from a recessive allele at a single locus. A peach tree can occasionally produce a nectarine sport (smooth-skinned branch), and vice versa. Flavor profiles differ somewhat — nectarines are typically described as having a slightly more acidic, complex flavor than equivalent peach varieties, though this varies by cultivar.