About
This elegant, deciduous tree with shiny, oval leaves and white blossom in spring. The medium-sized, pear-shaped, dessert fruit have yellowish-green, russetted skin and pale yellow, juicy, melting flesh with a musky flavour. Pick in mid-autumn and use to late winter. Not self-fertile, in pollination group 5, and requiring a warm, sheltered spot to do well.
About the genus
Pyrus are deciduous trees or shrubs with oval leaves and scented white flowers in spring, followed by green or brown fruits, edible in some species
Growing conditions
SunlightFull shade, Partial shade
Soil typeClay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained, Well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH6
Plant details
Plant typeFruit Edible, Trees
HabitBushy, Columnar upright, Spreading branched
FoliageDeciduous
Height2.5-4 metres
Spread2.5-4 metres
Time to full height10-20 years
Suggested usesCity and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Wildlife gardens
Care notes
CultivationNeeds a deep, fertile, moist but well-drained, fairly neutral soil in a sheltered, sunny position. Will not thrive on very acid soils, shallow chalk soils or with shade for more than half the day. See Pears or pear cultivation for further advice
PruningThin fruit in late spring or early summer to improve size and quality; see fruit thinning. Regular pruning required; prune cordons and other restricted forms in summer and all trees in winter. Further pruning advice: pruning new pear trees, summer pear pruning, winter pear pruning, renovating pear trees, pruning established fans
PropagationPropagate by grafting or budding onto a clonal rootstock for fruit. Fruit grown from pips will not resemble the parent
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to aphids, caterpillars, codling moth, pear blister mite, pear midge and pear and cherry slugworm
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to blossom wilt, brown rot, fireblight, pear scab, European pear rust and honey fungus (rarely)