Prunus armeniaca 'Gold Kist'
Light: Full sun, ideally with protection from intense western afternoon heat. Avoid reflected heat from walls and pavement.
Water: Deep, regular irrigation; not a desert low-water tree. Water more frequently during extreme heat and fruit development, allowing the upper few inches of soil to dry between irrigations. Avoid saturated soil.
Soil: Well-drained loam or sandy loam preferred. Tolerates some alkalinity, but poor drainage and salty soil can cause problems. Mulch the root zone, keeping mulch away from the trunk.
Mature size: Approximately 15–25 feet tall and wide, depending on rootstock; can be maintained around 10–15 feet with pruning.
Bloom: Late winter to early spring, often February in Phoenix. Fruit generally ripens in May to early June, depending on weather.
Evergreen / deciduous: Deciduous.
Growth rate: Moderate to fast with adequate irrigation and nutrition.