‘Summer Beaut' is a hybrid nectarine in the rose family (Rosaceae). The tree grows 12 to 15 feet tall and wide in full sun and well-drained soils. It is self-pollinating, but yields bigger crops when planted near a different nectarine variety with a similar bloom time. ‘Summer Beaut' requires 800 hours of chill time and does best in the southern 2/3rds of the country. This North Carolina Production Guide for Smaller Orchard Plantings from NC Extension has detailed information on planting, pruning and harvesting. Here is a guide to pest and disease management from NC State. The flowers appear in spring and are pink and fragrant. The mostly freestone, redish edible fruits have a juicy, but firm texture, a sweet taste and mature in mid to late summer. They can be eaten raw or cooked and can be canned or frozen. This North Carolina Production Guide for Smaller Orchard Plantings from NC Extension has detailed information on planting, pruning and harvesting. Nectarines are grown commercially or in the home edible garden. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Subject to many pests such as peach tree borer, plum curculio, oriental fruit moth, root nematodes, mites, and aphids. Very cold winter temperatures and late spring frosts often cause significant damage to the buds/flowers ofnectarines. The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home & Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common diseases. The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home & Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common pests. VIDEO Created by Laura Barth for "Vegetables, Herbs, Fruits, and Nuts," a plant identification course developed in partnership with Longwood Gardens. More information on Prunus persica .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Fills a similar nichePrunus persica 'Carolina Gold'Prunus persica 'Flavortop'Prunus persica 'Summer Pearl'
Full plant profile
Growing Conditions
Plant type
Edible; Tree
Life cycle
Woody
USDA zones
5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
12-24 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 12 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in. | Width: 12 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
High
Canopy layer
2 - Understory (15-40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect
Texture
Coarse
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Lanceolate
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Leaves are 2-6 by 1/2-1.5 inch, alternate, simple with a long-pointed tip, toothed margin and 2 small glands at the base of the blade. Under surface may have a few hairs while the upper surface is smooth. The leaves tend to curl inward along the central vein
Fall color
Gold/Yellow
Flower color
Pink
Flower value
Fragrant; Showy
Flower shape
Cup
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Pink flowers in spring occur solitary or occasionally paired with 5 petals and appear before leaf-out. 1-1.5 inches across and pleasantly fragrant.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Gold/Yellow; Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Pome
Fruit value
Edible
Fruit size
> 3 inches long, > 3 inches wide
Fruit detail
Sweet, juicy fruits are edible
Bark color
Light Gray
Bark detail
The bark is gray with horizontal lenticels and becomes rough and scaly with age.
Stem color
Gray/Silver; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
Young stems are reddish and older stems are gray. New growth at the tips is green and smooth
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Wildlife value
This is a larval host plant to Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus). Pollinators are attracted to the flowers. Mammals will eat the fruits.
Attracts
Bees; Butterflies; Small Mammals
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Fruit
Harvest time
Summer
Fruit type
Pome
Edibility
Fruit is edible raw or cooked and can be canned or frozen
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Lawn; Meadow
Landscape theme
Edible Garden
Design feature
Flowering Tree
Garden tags
#fruit tree #edible fruit #frequent insect problems #frequent disease problems #deciduous tree #fragrant flowers #spring flowers #children #vhfn #pink flowers #nectarine #butterfly friendly #high maintenance #pollinator plant
Problems & Resistance
Insect problems
2025 North Carolina Peach and Nectarine Disease and Pest Management Guide