About
'Emile d'Heyst' is a robust, upright pear tree characterized by its elongated, glossy leaves and white flowers that emerge in spring. The medium-sized, oval-shaped pears exhibit a skin that transitions from light green to yellowish green, often displaying some russeting. Their flesh is firm, fine-textured, and subtly yellow, offering a sweet and moderately juicy taste. Harvest occurs in mid-autumn, with fruit usable until late autumn. This variety is known for its consistent yields, even in less favorable climates. Note that it requires a pollinator, as it is not self-fertile and falls within pollination group 2.
About the genus
Pyrus consists of deciduous trees and shrubs characterized by oval-shaped leaves. In the spring, these plants produce fragrant white flowers, which are succeeded by green or brown fruits. Some species bear fruits that are suitable for consumption.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Soil type
- Clay, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
- Aspect
- South-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H6
Plant details
- Plant type
- Fruit Edible, Trees
- Habit
- Bushy, Columnar upright, Spreading branched
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Height
- 4-8 metres
- Spread
- 1.5-2.5 metres
- Time to full height
- 10-20 years
- Suggested uses
- City and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Wildlife gardens
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Needs 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
- Pruning
- Thin 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
- Propagation
- Propagate by grafting or budding onto a clonal rootstock for fruit. Fruit grown from pips will not resemble the parent
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to aphids, caterpillars, codling moth, pear blister mite, pear midge and pear and cherry slugworm
- Disease resistance
- May be susceptible to blossom wilt, brown rot, fireblight, pear scab, European pear rust and honey fungus (rarely)