Peach (disambiguation) facts for kids

Peach is a word with a few different meanings! It can be a delicious fruit, a tree that grows that fruit, a famous video game character, or even a soft, warm color.

What is a Peach? The Fruit and Tree

A peach is a sweet, juicy fruit that grows on a tree. It has fuzzy skin, soft flesh, and a large pit (seed) in the middle. Peaches are known for their lovely orange-yellow color, often with a blush of red. They are a popular fruit enjoyed all over the world.

Where Do Peaches Come From?

Peaches originally came from China. People have been growing and eating peaches there for thousands of years! They were first grown in China around 2000 BC. From China, peaches traveled along ancient trade routes to other parts of Asia, then to Europe, and eventually to the Americas.

Types of Peaches

There are many different kinds of peaches. Some have yellow flesh, while others have white flesh. Some peaches are called "freestone" because their pit easily separates from the flesh. Others are "clingstone," meaning the pit sticks to the fruit. Both types are tasty!

How Peaches Grow

Peach trees are deciduous, which means they lose their leaves in the fall. They need a cold winter period to produce fruit well. In spring, beautiful pink blossoms appear on the branches. These flowers are pollinated, often by bees, and then they turn into tiny peaches. The fruit grows bigger and ripens over the summer.

Life Cycle of a Peach Tree

A peach tree starts as a seed or a young plant. It grows into a mature tree over several years. Once mature, it can produce fruit for many years, sometimes for 10 to 20 years or even longer. Each year, the cycle of blooming, fruiting, and resting repeats.

What Are Peaches Used For?

Peaches are great to eat fresh, right off the tree! They are also used in many foods. You can find them in pies, cobblers, jams, jellies, and ice cream. Peach juice is also a popular drink. They are a good source of vitamins, like Vitamin C.

Princess Peach: A Video Game Star

When you hear "Peach," you might also think of Princess Peach. She is a very famous character from the Super Mario video game series by Nintendo. She is the kind ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom.

Princess Peach's Role in Games

Princess Peach often needs to be rescued by Mario and Luigi from the villain Bowser. However, she is not just a damsel in distress! In many games, she is a playable character. She has special abilities, like floating in the air. She is known for her pink dress and crown.

First Appearance

Princess Peach first appeared in the game Super Mario Bros. in 1985. Since then, she has been in countless Mario games, including Mario Kart, Mario Party, and Super Smash Bros.. She is one of the most recognizable female characters in video game history.

Peach as a Color

Peach is also the name of a soft, pale color. It is a light orange-pink shade, much like the skin of a ripe peach fruit. The color peach is often seen as warm, gentle, and inviting.

Where You See the Color Peach

You can find the color peach in many places. It's popular in fashion, home decor, and art. It's a common color for flowers, like some roses or tulips. The color peach can create a calm and cheerful feeling.

Images for kids

• Peach fruit.jpg

  A close-up of a ripe peach fruit.

• Peach tree blossoms.jpg

  Pink peach blossoms on a tree in spring.

• Princess Peach artwork.png

  Official artwork of Princess Peach.

• Peach color swatch.png

  A swatch showing the color peach.