A vigorous growing, but small tree with a spreading canopy, usually 1.8 – 3 m in cultivation. Trees are short-lived, generally living only 15-20 years, and even less on sites with a history of peach cultivation. Leaves are linear with acute tips, finely serrate margins, folded slightly along the midrib, sickle-shaped in profile, 5 – 15 cm in length.
Flowers are Light pink to carmine, to purplish; 2.5 – 3.5 cm in diameter. The
fruit is a drupe. The bony endocarp (pit) surrounds a single, large, ovate
seed. The flesh is the mesocarp and the skin the exocarp.
