Prunus persica 'May Pride'
Light: Full sun, ideally 6–8 or more hours daily; light late-afternoon shade can reduce stress in Phoenix’s extreme summer heat.
Water: Deep, regular irrigation; not drought tolerant for reliable fruit production. Increase watering during fruit development and summer heat, allowing the upper few inches of soil to dry slightly between waterings. Avoid prolonged saturation.
Soil: Well-drained loam preferred; tolerates other textures with good drainage. Phoenix’s alkaline soils may cause nutrient deficiencies. Apply organic mulch over the root zone, keeping it away from the trunk.
Mature size: Typically 15–20 feet tall and wide, depending on rootstock; can be maintained around 8–12 feet with regular pruning.
Bloom: Late winter to early spring, often February–March in Phoenix; timing varies with winter temperatures.
Evergreen / deciduous: Deciduous.
Growth rate: Fast with adequate irrigation and nutrition; grafted trees commonly begin bearing within 2–3 years after planting.