Belle of Georgia

Peach

Size

Large (medium-large per some sources)

Shape

Round, standard peach shape; red blush over peachy-yellow/creamy skin

Flavor

Sweet, honeyed, milder and less acidic than yellow-flesh peaches; fragrant

Texture

Freestone; firm, juicy, creamy-white flesh tinged red near the pit

Ripening window

Sources disagree - late June-early July per one source, late August per most nursery listings; late August is more consistent with its mid/late-season Southern-heirloom positioning

Best uses

Fresh eating, canning, freezing, preserving; historically prized for peach ice cream

Pollination

Self-fertile; benefits from a nearby pollinator for heavier fruit set

Tree size

15-25 ft unpruned, or ~10-15 ft maintained as a semi-dwarf; spread 8-20 ft

Notes

Also historically sold as "Georgia Belle" - same variety, treat as synonyms. Bred by Lewis A. Rumph of Marshallville, GA in 1870 (Chinese Cling lineage, same parentage stream as Elberta); became the dominant commercial white peach in the South by the early 1900s before being displaced by shipping-hardier varieties. Chill requirement 800-850 hours and zones 5-8 - this sits right at the edge of what's reliable for zone 8a Oak Point, TX, which typically sees roughly 600-900 hours in a normal winter but has seen warm-winter shortfalls in recent years; worth watching in a low-chill winter. Sources describe good resistance to bacterial leaf spot and brown rot; peach leaf curl resistance isn't specifically documented. Benefits from airflow-focused pruning to manage humidity-driven mold issues.