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Contender Peach Tree

Prunus persica 'Contender'
$12999
  • Out of stock
  • Stay Protected with Plant Sentry ™
Plant Size

Plant Sentry™

Plant Sentry is designed to protect both consumers and the nursery trade from invasive plant pests and diseases. Sites that display the Plant Sentry protection badge are protected from consumers buying and nurseries shipping material carrying invasive pests and diseases.

This proprietary eCommerce software prevents the shipment of a restricted plant to each state. The Plant Sentry system includes a shipment certification program. The Plant Sentry Compliance Officer works closely with NatureHills.com and each nursery or fulfillment center to ensure only compliant plants are sold to customers.

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Plant Sentry

Delivery and Shipping

Shipping

To obtain a more accurate shipment time-frame, simply enter your zip code in the “Find Your Growing Zone” box to the right. Our plants are grown all over the country and lead time on items may be different because of this. Once your order is placed, you will also receive the specific shipment time-frame information as part of your order confirmation. Once an item ships, you will receive shipment notification and tracking numbers, so you can follow along while your plant travels to your doorstep. We use FedEx, UPS, or USPS at our discretion.

 

Due to winter weather we have put a hold on shipping to the areas shown below in grey. You can still order now and we will ship the plant to you during an appropriate time for your zone.

*If you have found your zone already, it will be highlighted in the table below.

Standard Shipping Rates

At Nature Hills we handle, package and ship the products you order with the utmost care to ensure healthy delivery. Shipping and handling charges are calculated based on the tables below. Please note that some items include an additional handling surcharge, these will be noted on the item's product page.

From To S&H
$0 $19.99 $24.99
$20 $49.99 $29.99
$50 $69.99 $34.99
$70 $99.99 $39.99
$100 $129.99 $44.99
$130 $149.99 $48.99
$150 $150+ Approx 28%

Click here to see our full rates

Plant Highlights

Contender Peach Tree highlights at a glance!

Plant Highlights

  • Brand
    Nature Hills' Choice
  • Botanical Name
    Prunus persica 'Contender'
  • Growing Zones
    4 - 8
  • Mature Height
    15 - 20 feet
  • Mature Spread
    8 - 10 feet
  • Sun Exposure
    Full Sun
  • Moisture
    Regular & Moderate
  • Soil
    Rich Well-Drained
  • Growth Rate
    Medium
  • Fall Color
    Yellow
  • Pollinator Friendly
    Yes
  • Pollinator Required
    No
  • Fragrant
    Yes
  • Pruning Time
    Late Winter
  • Bloom Period
    Early Spring
  • Harvest Time
    Mid Season

So, you crave the sweet, juicy goodness of a homegrown Peach that you pick from your own tree in your own backyard, but, you live in a cold climate where it gets below zero in the winter. Fresh Peaches might just be a summer dream for you. Until now!

Finally! A Peach tree that doesn't have to live in the South to survive! The Contender Peach (Prunus persica 'Contender') is the first Peach tree for the home gardener that survives the North's sub-zero temperatures. Just in time for late summer barbecues and back to school, the delicious, juicy fruit ripens and you are ready for all the pies, preserves, freezing and fresh eating healthy goodness!

Contender is an exceptionally hardy tree that reliably produces loads of big, sweet, juicy fruit. It constantly wins flavor taste trials! To top it off, the trees are disease-resistant and self-pollinating. They are sized just right for home gardens, staying smaller and easy to reach, Contender will fit into any garden, large or small!

Planting and Application:

From the big clouds of deliciously fragrant pink blossoms that pollinators adore, to the long wavy green leaves, these tall, upright and narrow trees look pretty as a picture in the landscape! Add one to your front yard to keep a close eye on it from your picture window, or near your back seating area so you can always pluck a juicy peach right off the limbs while relaxing beneath the shade of its limbs!

Prune smaller to add to smaller yards, or established orchards with ease! Keep this tree nearly any size needed for privacy screens and hedgerows. These are fantastic edible ornamentals that will pull double duty in any landscape. So replace that flowering tree with one that develops big globes of fuzzy, juicy yellow-blushed fruit!

  • Delicious Juicy Fruit
  • Big Freestone Fruit
  • Fragrant Pink Spring Blooms
  • Self-Fertile
  • Great Canning, Freezing & Fresh Eating

#ProPlantTips for Care:

Peach trees do best in enriched organically amended well-drained soil with a thick, protective layer of mulch over the surface. Plant in full sun, at least 6 hours of sunlight per day, in a location with great air circulation. Provide supplemental watering and regular fertility for best results!

  • Full Sun
  • Enriched Well-Drained Soil
  • Mulch Well & Prune Late Winter
  • ~1000-1100 Chill Hours
  • Cold-Hardy & Disease Resistant

Think good peaches only grow in the South? Well, now the North has a Contender! Order your own Contender Peach Tree from NatureHills.com today!

Peach Tree Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take for Contender Peach Trees to bear fruit?

Nature Hills Nursery sells fruit trees with mature root systems that are already three to four years old, so you’ll enjoy fruit sooner than you would with younger trees! Expect a young peach tree to begin fruiting by the 3rd year after you plant it.

How Fast Do Contender Peach Trees Grow?

Be sure to plant your peach in a sunny and well-drained location. Once your Contender (Prunus persica 'Contender') has been established (after the first year), it can typically add 12-18 inches of new growth in a growing season. If your plants are adding less than that in a season, it may be worth your while to check the fertility level.

Where do Contender Peach Trees Grow Best?

Peach trees grow best in well-drained, fertile soil in at least 6 hours of full sun per day or more.

Do You Need 2 Peach Trees to Produce Fruit?

All peach trees are self-fertile, however planting more than one peach tree that blooms at about the same time, boosts yields on both trees and extends your harvest time!

Harvest Times for Contender Peach Trees

Contenders are typically ready to harvest in late August to September. Keep in mind exact harvest times are subject to change depending on the hardiness zones they’re being grown in.

Early-Season? Mid-Season? Late-Season? The terminology can be confusing for new peach tree growers. Weather, climate and your tree determine when it’s ripe.

When Should Contender Peach Tree be Planted?

Bareroot peach trees can be planted in spring when they are available in your area. Container-grown peach trees can be very successfully transplanted all throughout the growing season. Check for the first and last frost dates for your area with your local County Extension Office.

  • Plant bareroot peach trees in the early spring.
  • Plant container-grown trees anytime the ground is not frozen by digging a hole as deep as the soil line and twice as wide.

How Do I Find Contender Peach Trees for Sale Near Me?

Make your life easier and your yard happier by shopping for peach trees at NatureHills.com online fruit tree nursery. You’ll find a massive selection of fruit trees for sale, including many lovely peach tree varieties!

Choose the right tree for your area by first finding your USDA growing zone by entering your zip code in the field above the Plant Highlights section on our product pages. Narrow down your options by plant hardiness zone, sun availability, and size requirements.

Place your order, knowing it’s backed by the Nature Hills Nursery product guarantee and protected by Plant Sentry™, which helps ensure regulated plant materials aren’t sent to prohibited areas.

Expect to receive your plants at the appropriate planting time for your growing zone when temperatures are safest for those plants that ship in fall, winter, or early spring.

Shop the selection of mature peach trees for sale at Nature Hills Nursery and place your order for Contender Peach Tree today.

What shipping options do you offer?

NatureHills.com works closely with our growers and nursery professionals to ensure we ship when it is most appropriate for your area. Our goal is to deliver the hardiest plants by avoiding extreme high and low temperatures. Check out our shipping schedule for more information and to learn our wills and won’ts when it comes to shipping plants. Find your Contender Peach Tree for Sale for sale here at NatureHills.com!

Customer Reviews

Based on 4 reviews
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A
Amanda
Came healthy and stayed alive

Very pleased with the quality of my tree and that it didn’t come dead from the stresses of being shipped. This was my 5th tree ,that I purchase this year, and haven’t had any issues.

Hi Amanda,

Thank you so much for sharing your positive experience and for trusting us with your tree purchases—five times this year is truly a testament to your gardening passion! We’re delighted to hear that your tree arrived healthy and has thrived without any shipping issues. Ensuring your plants arrive safely and thrive in your care is always our top priority.

If you ever want tips for ongoing tree care or recommendations for future additions to your garden, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re here to help your garden grow beautifully all season long!

Rooting for your garden’s success,
Your Nature Hills Plant Care Team

M
Michael
SUPER FAST GROWING!

Planted this in spring of 2021, less than 16 months ago. I live in Zone 5B and I have slightly alkalinic soil and a lot of sunlight. When this was planted, it was only about 4 feet tall with almost no branches. I'm writing this review in September, 2022. I only water my tree if it's been over a week without rain and do not use fertilizer.Since planting this last spring, its trunk has over doubled in diameter (3/4 inch to about 2 inches). It has over tripled in height, reaching about 14 feet tall and about 10 feet wide. The tree branches were heavily laden with dozens of peaches in its first spring. Unfortunately, the squirrels in my area ate every single peach off the tree. So I wasn't able to try them out yet, but I did find a half-eaten one up another tree that I cut in half and smelled. It was firm and fragrant - much better than store-bought. I look forward to trying out the peaches next year, perhaps. Also, birds love the tree and it does produce lovely spring blossoms, (which only last for a few weeks). I just started my garden last year and I never expected shade so soon! Unbelievably fast growing and beautiful. Worth far more than the price (compared with many other trees I've tried planting).

Hi Michael,

Thank you so much for sharing such a detailed and enthusiastic update on your tree’s progress! We’re thrilled to hear how remarkably well it’s grown in Zone 5B and with your alkaline soil and sunny conditions. It sounds like you’ve given it excellent care with just the right balance of watering—that’s wonderful!

It’s definitely exciting how quickly your tree has developed such a substantial trunk and large branches. Your observation about the peaches attracting squirrels is a common one, unfortunately, especially with this type of fruit tree. For next season, you might consider options like employing wildlife-friendly deterrents such as mesh netting, reflective tape, or even planting sacrificial feeder plants nearby to help save more of your harvest for yourself. And how lovely that the birds are enjoying your tree too—what a vibrant garden you’re creating!

We can’t wait to hear how you like those first whole peaches once you reclaim them from those clever visitors! In the meantime, feel free to reach out whenever you want tips on wildlife protection or general care throughout the seasons.

Bloom on,
The Nature Hills Plant Knowledge Team

L
Lila
lila.

It is great!

Dear Lila,

Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback! We're delighted to hear that you’re pleased with your experience. If there’s ever anything you’d like to know more about or any way we can assist you in your gardening journey, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re here to help your garden thrive every step of the way!

Welcoming growth together,
Nature Hills Nursery – Your Trusted Plant Specialists

L
Lila
lila.

It is great!

Hi Lila,

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your wonderful feedback! We’re thrilled to hear that your experience was great. If you ever have any questions about your plants or need advice on care, please don’t hesitate to reach out—we’re here to help your garden thrive.

Wishing you happy planting,
The Nature Hills Plant Experts

Contender Peach Tree - Nature Hills Nursery - 4 - 5 Feet Bareroot Standard Height -

Contender Peach Tree

From $5999 $7999

Growing Zones

4 - 8

Mature Height

15 - 20 feet

Mature Spread

8 - 10 feet

Sun

Full Sun

Foliage Color

N/A

Fall Color

Yellow

Flower Color

N/A
View product

Find Your Garden's Growing Zone!

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When ordering a tree or plant, make sure to know your planting zone.

You can determine your garden’s USDA hardiness zone by entering your Zip Code below.