Spice Zee Nectaplum is a groundbreaking hybrid from Zaiger Hybrids that marries the best qualities of nectarines and plums into a single, extraordinary fruit. Its dark maroon skin softens to pale pink as it ripens, revealing white flesh with a flavor that captures both nectarine sweetness and plum complexity. Hardy in zones 6 through 10 with low chill requirements, this tree reaches 12 to 16 feet tall and wide, bearing large fruit in 2 to 3 years. It thrives in hot climates and handles heat stress that would challenge conventional stone fruits, making it a smart choice for gardeners in warmer regions.
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Full Sun
Moderate
6-10
192in H x 180in W
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High
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Spice Zee's flavor is genuinely one-of-a-kind, delivering both nectarine and plum notes in a single bite. The tree transforms from an ornamental jewel with red-tinged spring foliage turning dark red-green in summer, while producing waves of pink and purple blossoms from June through September. Low chill requirements and heat tolerance mean gardeners in mild winters and scorching summers can finally grow an exceptional stone fruit without compromise. The visual drama of dark maroon fruit ripening to blush pink makes harvest day feel like unwrapping a gift.
Spice Zee's primary value lies in fresh eating, where its unusual flavor profile of blended nectarine sweetness and plum character shines brightest. The tree also serves as an ornamental specimen for gardeners who want productive landscape plants, its striking foliage transitions and profuse spring bloom offsetting its fruit-bearing function. In hot-climate gardens where traditional stone fruits falter, it fills a crucial role as a reliable, flavorful producer for home consumption.
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Bare-root trees should be planted in late winter or early spring before bud break, while container trees can go in the ground any time the soil is workable, avoiding transplanting during extreme heat. Dig a hole as deep as the root ball and twice as wide, backfill with native soil, and water deeply to settle the soil. Space trees 15 feet apart.
Harvest when fruit skin transforms from dark maroon to pale pink, the primary indicator of peak ripeness. The fruit should yield slightly to gentle thumb pressure without being soft. Grasp the fruit and twist gently; a ripe fruit releases easily from the branch. Harvest begins around 2 to 3 years after planting. Because ripening is concentrated rather than staggered, you may pick most fruit within a 2 to 3 week window in late summer through early fall.
Prune Spice Zee in late winter while dormant to establish an open center structure that allows light penetration and air circulation. Remove any crossing or inward-growing branches, and thin crowded fruiting wood to reduce pest and disease pressure. Light heading of new growth after the first bloom season encourages branching and denser structure. Avoid heavy pruning once the tree begins bearing fruit.
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“Spice Zee emerged from Zaiger Hybrids, the legendary California breeding program known for creating complex interspecific hybrids. As the first NectaPlum to reach commercial cultivation, it represents a deliberate crossing of nectarine and plum genetics, combining the smooth skin and white flesh of nectarines with the flavor complexity and low chill adaptability of select plum varieties. This wasn't accidental; it was a calculated feat of plant breeding aimed at expanding stone fruit options for gardeners in regions previously unsuitable for traditional fruit trees.”