‘Summer Pearl' is a hybrid peach in the rose family (Rosaceae). Plant in full sun in well-drained, moist fertil soils. 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 on fruit trees. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Potential disease problems include peach leaf curl, brown rot, bacterial leaf spot and canker. Potential insect problems include 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 of nectarines. 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 Red'Prunus persica 'Flavortop'Prunus persica 'Summer Beaut'
Full plant profile
Growing Conditions
Life cycle
Woody
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
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
High
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
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 type
Drupe
Bark detail
The bark is gray with horizontal lenticels and becomes rough and scaly with age.
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
Attracts
Bees; Butterflies; Small Mammals
Food & Medicine
Fruit type
Drupe
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Lawn; Meadow
Landscape theme
Edible Garden
Design feature
Flowering Tree
Garden tags
#frequent insect problems #frequent disease problems #deciduous tree #edible fruit #spring flowers #pink flowers #fruit tree #high maintenance
Problems & Resistance
Insect problems
2025 North Carolina Peach and Nectarine Disease and Pest Management Guide