Arctic Queen

Peach

Size

Medium-large (~2.6-2.9 in.)

Shape

Round

Flavor

Supremely sweet, low-acid, rich flavor with mild sub-acidic notes

Texture

Crunchy/firm and crisp; holds up well in storage

Ripening window

Late July - early August

Best uses

Fresh eating; also preserving, baking, or as a peach substitute in recipes (no peeling needed)

Pollination

Self-fertile - no pollinator needed, though Fantasia, Stark SunGlo, Royal Giant, or Arctic Blaze nearby can increase crop size

Tree size

10-16 ft depending on rootstock; can be summer-pruned to ~8 ft

Notes

White-flesh nectarine (Prunus persica var. nucipersica) bred by Zaiger's Genetics, part of their "Arctic" series - don't confuse with the similar Arctic Star or other Arctic-series siblings (Arctic Blaze, Arctic Babe, Arctic Sprite, Arctic Zee). Mottled red-over-white skin, white freestone flesh. Sources disagree on chill hours (600-700 vs. 900-1,000, with the higher figure from Dave Wilson, the originating nursery, treated as more authoritative) - at that level this may be a marginal fit for zone 8a Texas, which typically sees 400-800 hours; worth checking local chill averages before committing.