Peaches
Peaches may be the poster fruit for summer, but they’re not the only ones turning heads with soft curves and sunset-colored skin. In orchards and markets around the world, several fruits echo the peach’s charm — some with fuzzy coats, others with a smooth disguise. If you’ve ever picked up a fruit and done a double take, you’re not alone. Here are six fruits that borrow the peach’s look while marching to the beat of their own flavor.
1. Apricot
Apricots are often described as miniature peaches — and for good reason. They share a similar fuzzy skin, round shape, and orange-yellow coloring. While they’re smaller and slightly firmer than peaches, apricots mimic the peach’s exterior so closely that you might do a double-take in the fruit aisle. Their pit is also centrally located and looks like a tiny peach stone.
2. Nectarine
If a peach lost its fuzz, it would become a nectarine. Nectarines are genetically almost identical to peaches, but their skin is smooth and shiny. They have the same rounded shape, reddish-yellow skin, and juicy, fragrant flesh. In fact, the biggest visual difference is the texture of the skin — otherwise, they’re nearly twins.
3. Plumcot / Aprium / Pluot
These hybrid fruits (crosses between plums and apricots) often take on the best features of both parents, resulting in peach-like traits. Many have a soft, round shape and a reddish or golden skin tone that resembles peaches. Some varieties even develop slight fuzz. Depending on the cross, the flesh can range from tart to sweet, and the overall look can easily pass for a peach cousin.
4. Prunus mume (Japanese Apricot / Chinese Plum)
This ancient fruit, widely grown in East Asia, is small and round with a fuzzy skin that turns yellow or reddish-orange when ripe — very much like a mini peach. The resemblance is especially strong when it’s fresh and soft, although Prunus mume is more often used pickled or dried. It’s part of the same genus as peaches, so the similarities go beyond looks.
5. Plums (Yellow Plum, Mirabelle Plum)
While not all plums resemble peaches, yellow varieties like the Mirabelle plum often do. They’re round, smooth-skinned, and golden in color — much like a peach without fuzz. Some can even develop a blush of red on the skin. Though their texture is firmer and they’re generally smaller, visually, they can easily be mistaken for petite peaches.
6. Velvet Apple (Diospyros blancoi)
This lesser-known tropical fruit is a surprise entry on the list. Also known as mabolo, the velvet apple has a round to oval shape and a dense, peach-like fuzz covering its skin. Its reddish-brown hue and soft exterior give it a distinct resemblance to a large peach — though the flavor and aroma are quite different, often described as pungent and cheesy when overripe. Still, visually, it can fool the eye.