August Lady Peach

Prunus persica 'August Lady'

Nature Hills Nursery

Hardy in zones 5-9 with 800 chill hours for reliable fruiting year after year
Large freestone peaches ripen in late August with brilliant red blush over golden-yellow skin and firm, juicy flesh
Self-fertile tree produces heavy crops without a pollinator, perfect for fresh eating, canning, freezing, and baking
Fast-growing tree reaches 15-20 feet tall with stunning pink spring blooms and golden fall color

$83⁹²

Shipping calculated at checkout.

In Stock

Enter your ZIP code to check shipping availability.

Find your Growing Zone

Plant Size

#3 Container | 3-4 ft

Product variants

Planting & Care

Where to Plant

Sunlight: Give your August Lady Peach at least eight hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight daily for the sweetest fruit and best disease resistance. Trees grown in partial shade produce smaller crops and struggle with fungal issues due to poor air circulation.

Soil: This peach thrives in deep, well-drained, slightly acidic soil with a pH of 6.0 to 6.5. Heavy clay soils must be amended with coarse sand or planted on berms to prevent root rot. Sandy loam or loamy soil with good drainage is ideal. Avoid low-lying areas where cold air settles and frost damage is more likely during bloom time.

Watering Requirements

Water deeply once or twice weekly during the first two growing seasons to establish a strong root system. Mature trees need consistent moisture from bloom through harvest, especially during fruit development. Provide about one inch of water per week through rainfall or irrigation. Drought stress during fruit set causes smaller peaches and premature fruit drop, while inconsistent watering leads to fruit splitting.

Pruning Tips

Prune in late winter while the tree is still dormant to maintain an open center vase shape. Remove vertical shoots and thin out crowded branches to improve sunlight penetration and air circulation, which reduces disease pressure. Peaches fruit on one-year-old wood, so avoid removing all new growth. Thin fruit when peaches reach marble size, spacing them 6 to 8 inches apart along branches to encourage larger fruit size and prevent limb breakage.

Fertilizer Needs

Apply a balanced fertilizer like 10-10-10 in early spring just before new growth begins, using about one pound per year of tree age up to a maximum of ten pounds for mature trees. Avoid fertilizing after July as late nitrogen encourages tender new growth that won't harden off before winter. Over-fertilizing produces excessive foliage at the expense of fruit production and makes trees more susceptible to disease.

Delivery and Shipping

Preorder Shipping Schedule

We ship your plants when it's safe to transport them to your zone. Dates are estimated and subject to weather delays.

Zone 3-4	Week of March 30th
Zone 5	Week of March 16th
Zone 6-12	Week of March 2nd

Shipping Rates

Ships in 7-10 business days • Tracking provided • Weather protected

Under $50	$9.99
$50 - $99.99	$14.99
$100 - $149.99	$16.99
$150 - $198.99	$24.99
$199+	FREE

✓ Zone-specific timing • ✓ Professional packaging • ✓ Health guarantee

Understanding Our Container Sizes

At Nature Hills, our plants are sold in industry-standard nursery containers. You will notice we use the word "container" rather than "gallon." Container numbers follow a nursery trade size standard, not liquid volume. The number tells you the plant's size category and general maturity level. A larger container means a more established plant with a stronger root system.

Container Sizes

Quart

Plant age: 6 months to 1 year
Best for: Ground covers, perennials, ornamental grasses
What to expect: Our smallest and most affordable size. Well-suited for planting in multiples across a large area. Allow 1 to 2 seasons for full establishment.

#1 Container

Plant age: 1 to 2 years
Best for: Shrubs, perennials, smaller trees
What to expect: About the size of a large coffee can. A well-developed root system in a manageable size. Good value choice when you have time to let the plant grow into the space over a season or two.

#2 Container

Plant age: 2 to 3 years
Best for: Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment
What to expect: A noticeable step up from a #1 in both plant size and root development. Good choice when you want visible presence without going to a larger size.

#3 Container

Plant age: 3 to 4 years
Best for: Most plants, most situations — flowering trees, shade trees, evergreen shrubs
What to expect: Our most popular size. Strong, developed root system. Plants in a #3 container make an immediate visual impact from day one. If you want a head start rather than waiting seasons for a plant to fill in, this is typically the right choice.

#5 Container and Larger

Plant age: 4 to 5+ years
Best for: Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact
What to expect: Large, mature plants ready to make an immediate statement in your landscape. We also carry #7 and larger sizes for select varieties.

Why "Container" and Not "Gallon"?

Nursery container sizes follow an industry trade standard established for the nursery and horticulture industry. The number is a size designation, not a measurement of liquid volume. Actual soil volume varies by plant type, root mass, and growing medium. Using "container" is the accurate industry term. When you see #1, #2, or #3, think of it as the plant's size tier, not a gallon measurement.

Root Pouch Containers

Some Nature Hills plants arrive in a Root Pouch, a breathable fabric container made from 100% recycled materials. Root Pouches encourage denser root development through air pruning, which discourages root circling and promotes a stronger, more fibrous root ball at the time of planting.

Plants growing in Root Pouch fabric containers, showing the breathable woven fabric construction

There are two types. Knowing which one you have changes how you plant:

Degradable (brown or tan fabric): Plant the entire pouch directly in the ground. The fabric breaks down naturally in the soil over time.
Non-degradable (black or gray fabric): Remove the pouch before planting. Cut the bottom open with scissors, then peel the sides away. The fibrous root ball will hold its shape.

Not sure which type you have? Check the tag on your plant or contact us and we will confirm.

Full Root Pouch planting guide

Choosing the Right Size

Size	Plant Age	Best For
Quart	6 mo to 1 yr	Ground covers, perennials, grasses. Budget-friendly for mass plantings.
#1 Container	1 to 2 yrs	Shrubs, perennials, small trees. Value choice for patient gardeners.
#2 Container	2 to 3 yrs	Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment.
#3 Container	3 to 4 yrs	Most plants. Immediate visual impact. Our most popular size.
#5 and larger	4+ yrs	Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact.

Still not sure which size is right for your project? Our plant specialists are happy to help. Contact us and we will point you in the right direction.

August Lady Peach (Prunus persica 'August Lady') earns its place in the home orchard by delivering a bumper crop of premium freestone peaches in late August, extending the harvest season when most other peach varieties have already finished. This reliable producer combines exceptional fruit quality with manageable care requirements, making it a favorite among orchardists and backyard fruit growers from zone 5 through zone 9.

Late Season Harvest Extends Summer Bounty

While early season peaches come and go, August Lady is just hitting its stride in late summer. The large freestone peaches ripen over several weeks from mid to late August, allowing you to harvest fresh fruit over an extended period rather than dealing with the entire crop at once. Each peach features a brilliant red blush over a golden-yellow background that makes them as beautiful as they are delicious. The firm, juicy, golden-yellow flesh has that classic sweet-tart peach flavor with enough structure to hold up beautifully in canning, freezing, and baking applications while remaining tender and juicy for fresh eating.

Stunning Ornamental Appeal Beyond the Harvest

The show begins in early spring when branches are covered in fragrant pink blossoms that attract bees and beneficial pollinators to your garden. This spectacular floral display happens before the leaves emerge, creating weeks of color when the rest of the landscape is still waking up. As the growing season progresses, the lance-shaped green foliage provides a lush canopy, and come autumn, leaves turn shades of gold and orange before dropping. This vase-shaped tree grows 15 to 20 feet tall with a 12 to 15 foot spread, making it manageable for most home landscapes.

Self-Fertile and Productive

August Lady is self-fertile, which means you only need one tree to get fruit. While a second peach variety can increase yields through cross-pollination, this cultivar produces heavy crops on its own. Trees typically begin bearing fruit within two to three years after planting, rewarding your patience with baskets of peaches much sooner than many other fruit trees. The fast growth rate means you'll have a shade-casting, fruit-producing tree in just a few seasons.

Perfect for the Home Orchard

With an 800 chill hour requirement, August Lady produces reliably in zones 5 through 9 where winters provide sufficient cold to break dormancy and promote strong spring bloom. This makes it adaptable to a wide range of climates from the mid-Atlantic through the Midwest and into the Pacific Northwest. Whether you're planting a dedicated fruit orchard or adding a single tree to your landscape for fresh eating and preserving, August Lady Peach delivers year after year. The freestone pit separates easily from the flesh, making food preparation effortless whether you're slicing peaches for a summer dessert, filling jars for winter pantry stock, or freezing them for smoothies and cobblers.

Botanical Name

Prunus persica 'August Lady'
Class
- Magnoliopsida
Species

persica
Cultivar

August Lady
Growing Zones

5-8
Height

15-20 ft
Width

12-15 ft
Sunlight
- Full sun
Growth Rate

Fast
Flower Color
- Pink
Leaf Color
- Green
Fragrant

Yes
Bloom Period

Early Spring
Does Not Ship To

AK, CA, HI, ID, MT, OR, PR, WA

Free shipping

On all orders over $199
Plant Sentry™

Compliant guaranteed
Easy returns

Hassle free returns policy
Live Chat

Talk to a real person

Growing Zones 5-8

Find Your Growing Zone!

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the August Lady Peach require a certain number of chill hours?

August Lady Peach requires 400-600 chill hours to produce fruit properly. This moderate chill requirement makes it well-suited for zones 5-9. Track your area's winter hours below 45°F to ensure adequate chilling for reliable late August harvests.

How tall does the August Lady Peach tree grow at maturity?

August Lady Peach trees reach 15 to 20 feet tall with a 12 to 15 foot spread at maturity. This vase-shaped tree stays manageable for most home landscapes while producing heavy crops of late-season peaches. Shop at Nature Hills for this reliable producer that thrives in zones 5-9.

Is the August Lady Peach self-fertile, or does it need a pollinator?

August Lady Peach is self-fertile and produces heavy crops with just one tree. While a second peach variety can boost yields through cross-pollination, it's not required. You can expect fruit production within 2-3 years of planting.

How far apart should I space August Lady Peach trees when planting?

Space August Lady Peach trees 12-15 feet apart to accommodate their mature spread. These trees grow 15-20 feet tall with a 12-15 foot canopy, so proper spacing prevents overcrowding and ensures good air circulation. Plant them where they'll receive full sun and have room to develop their natural vase shape.

What are the basic care requirements for watering and fertilizing an August Lady Peach?

August Lady Peach needs consistent deep watering during fruit development and benefits from balanced fertilizer in early spring. Water weekly during dry spells, providing 1-2 inches total. Feed with 10-10-10 fertilizer in March before bloom. Shop at Nature Hills for this reliable zone 5-9 producer.

How do I prune an August Lady Peach tree?

Prune August Lady Peach trees in late winter while dormant, focusing on removing dead, diseased, or crossing branches. Open the center to improve air circulation and light penetration through the canopy. Remove about 20% of last year's growth to maintain the natural vase shape and keep this 15-20 foot tree manageable for harvesting.

Is the August Lady Peach shipped bare root or in a container?

August Lady Peach trees are typically shipped bare root during dormant season (late winter/early spring) and in containers during the growing season. Bare root shipping allows for better root establishment in zones 5-9. Check the product page for current availability and shipping method based on your planting timeline.

Will the August Lady Peach survive cold winters in zone 5?

Yes, August Lady Peach is hardy in zone 5 and will survive cold winters in that region. This variety is specifically rated for zones 5 through 9, making it one of the more cold-tolerant peach cultivars available. Plant in a protected location with good air drainage for best winter survival.