A deciduous fruit tree species (Prunus persica) that originated and was first cultivated in western China. It is adapted to relatively moderate climates in the temperate zone. Although most peach cultivars require a substantial amount of winter chilling (temperatures between 32 and 45°F, or 0–7°C) to ensure adequate breaking of winter dormancy and uniform budbreak, peach wood is susceptible to winter injury at temperatures below −15°F (−25°C) and dormant fruit buds are injured by temperatures below 0°F (−18°C). Consequently, commercial cultivation is limited to lower latitudes in the temperate zone or to higher latitudes where large bodies of water have a moderating influence on climate. The principal peach-growing regions in North America, ranked in order of commercial production, are central California, Georgia and the Carolinas, the mid-Atlantic region, the Great Lakes region, and the Pacific northwestern region. Other important peach-growing regions in the world include Italy, southern France, Spain, Japan, China, Argentina, southern Brazil, Chile, South Africa, and southeastern Australia.