Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Prunus andersonii is a species of shrub in the rose family, part of the same genus as the peach, cherry, and almond. Its common names include desert peach and desert almond. It is native to eastern California and western Nevada, where it grows in forests and scrub in desert and mountains. Prunus andersonii is a shrub approaching two meters (80 inches) in height, its tangling branches narrowing to spiny-tipped twigs. Serrated, lance-shaped to oval leaves occur in clusters, each leaf measuring up to 3 centimeters (1. 2 inches) long. The shrub is deciduous. The inflorescence is a solitary flower or pair of flowers. Each flower has usually five concave pink petals each just under a centimeter (0. 4 inches) long, with many whiskerlike stamens at the center. Flowers bloom before or at the same time as the leaves appear. The fruit is a fuzzy reddish-orange drupe around a centimeter (0. 4 inches) wide. The fruits are fleshy in years with ample moisture, and dry in drought years. The seed is a heart-shaped stone. The plant reproduces sexually via germination of the seed, and vegetatively by sprouting from its rhizome. One plant may sprout and resprout from its rhizomes to form a very large clone which can spread over several acres.

Plant type

Tree, Shrub

Size

4 - 7 ft Tall

Dormancy

Winter Deciduous

Calscape icon
Color

Pink

Flowering season

Spring

Special uses

Hedge

Sun

Full Sun, Partial Shade

Water

Low, Very Low

Soil drainage

Fast

Soil description

Prefers sandy or decomposed granite soil.

Propagation

For propagating by seed: Crack bony endocarp; or soak 2-3 days in water (changing wa ter 1-2 times per day is beneficial) at room temperature for equally good results; then 2-2l/2 mos. stratification.

Sunset Zones

1, 2, 3*, 7*, 8, 9, 10, 14*, 15, 16, 17, 18*, 19*, 20*, 21*, 22, 23

Site type

Sandy flats, desert washes

Plant communities

Creosote Bush Scrub, Pinyon-Juniper Woodland

Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

2 confirmed and 119 likely

Confirmed Likely

Western Tent Caterpillar

Malacosoma californica

Tetracis formosa

Climbing Cutworm

Abagrotis orbis

Acerra normalis