The Origin of Peaches

China is widely held to be the native home of peaches with many wild peaches growing in the countryside. The peach was brought to the Mediterranean area from Iran (formerly called Persia), the source of the scientific name for the peach "Prunus persica". The peach was known in Greece by 300 BC and by the Romans shortly after 100 AD.

Early peaches were propagated by seed, the easiest way to transport the peach plant. Budded trees (so-called inoculated trees) became available in America around the time of the American Revolution.