Peach

Peaches in a basket

A peach is a fruit grown on the tree of the genus Prunus, in the rose family (Rosaceae). It is also the South Carolina State Fruit. Peach trees naturally reach heights of around 20 feet, although cultivated trees are generally kept to about half of that height.^[1] They produce pink flowers, and a soft, juicy fruit^[2] containing a single pit.

The peach tree is believed to be native to China, from where it spread through Asia, to the Mediterranean countries, and then parts of Europe. The Spanish brought peaches to the Americas, where they began growing as early as the 1600. For much of their history, peaches were mostly reserved for nobility. However, in the 19th century, they began being cultivated in the United States, making them readily available to the public.^[3]