The Fast-Growing Tree That Attracts Birds And Butterflies To Your Yard

Unlike planting a vegetable garden, planting trees takes years of dedication and care before you finally get to enjoy the fruits of your labor (sometimes literally). In fact, certain trees can take five to 10 years to even start flowering. Luckily, you don't have to wait that long to attract birds and butterflies to your yard if you choose the right flowering tree. Among the many trees with pink flowers you should have in your yard, Corinthian pink peach trees (Prunus persica 'Corinthian Pink') quickly fill your space with a tall, narrow display of blooms that will keep pollinators coming back year after year.

While they do not produce edible fruits, 'Corinthian Pink' trees blossom in a stunning display of vibrant pink double flowers. This means that, during the blooming season in early spring, these ornamental peach trees produce fragrant flowers with an impressive number of petals that are layered over each other in a frilly fashion. This fast-growing tree can grow up to 4 feet per year and reaches up to 25 feet tall and 15 feet wide when grown in USDA Hardiness Zones 5 to 9. Most peach trees, including ornamental varieties, start flowering by year three, and will continue to do so for roughly 40 years or more if you treat them right. Here's how to do it.

When you first plant a 'Corinthian Pink' peach tree, you will want to make sure you select a location that has adequate room and sunlight to promote healthy growth. Of course, always consider whether you've selected the right tree for your front yard before planting it. Select a location that gets at least six hours of sunlight. While they thrive in well-draining, slightly acidic soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0, they're still pretty flexible, so long as they aren't in standing water. 

These trees are commonly planted along pathways due to their narrow growth. Nonetheless, you will want to space them apart enough so that they have room to spread and each gets enough sunlight. They usually spread between 8 and 10 feet, though they can occasionally reach 15 feet at full maturity, so 15 feet of spacing between trees is recommended. That space will help invite pollinators. To encourage its beautiful blossoms, you need to water your 'Corinthian Pink' peach tree very thoroughly when you first plant it, but then sparingly throughout the first year. You shouldn't need to water it much after the first year, unless you're in a drought.

After your tree is established, there is very little work required to keep it blooming and attracting birds and butterflies to your yard. Pruning is only necessary to maintain a clean shape as the plant grows, but you shouldn't cut the tops of branches. Practicing proper pruning is an essential gardening tip to grow healthy peach trees. Simply cut off any side branches that are sticking out. You can also remove dead and diseased branches as necessary in the late winter or early spring. That's it!

In the spring, you can expect a stunning, fragrant display of unique blossoms. As the blooms fade in the summer, they are replaced with a reddish-green foliage that eventually turns yellow in the fall, bringing autumnal beauty to your yard along with pollinators for multiple seasons.