Prunus persica 'Red Baron'
Light: Full sun, ideally 6–8 hours daily; light afternoon shade can reduce stress in Phoenix’s extreme summer heat.
Water: Regular, deep irrigation; not drought tolerant. Water broadly beneath and beyond the canopy, increasing frequency during extreme heat and fruit development. Allow the soil surface to dry slightly between waterings.
Soil: Well-drained loam preferred; tolerates sandy soil with appropriate irrigation. Avoid waterlogged soil. Phoenix’s alkaline soils may cause iron deficiency.
Mature size: Approximately 15–25 feet tall and wide on standard rootstock; smaller on size-controlling rootstock or with regular pruning.
Bloom: Late winter to early spring, depending on accumulated winter chill and temperatures.
Evergreen / deciduous: Deciduous.
Growth rate: Moderate to fast with adequate irrigation and nutrition.