Pyrus pyrifolia - Asian Pear

Pyrus pyrifolia, or Nashi pear in Dutch, is a hardy species (up to -15°C (5°F)), forming a small tree, very similar to the common pear tree. It produces small-sized fruits, called nashis, with a subglobose shape, rounded like an apple. Its skin is slightly rough, fairly thin, golden bronze, taking on bronze-brownish hues when ripe, and marked all over its surface with white dots. It is a super fruit with exceptional nutritional qualities. The harvest takes place from late August to late September. The fruits are consumed as they ripen and can be stored for a few weeks in a cool place. Surprising and pleasant in the mouth, the nashi is eaten raw. Cooked, it lends itself well to many recipes for jams, compotes, pastries, and desserts. This Japanese Pear prefers a sunny exposure, in filtering, moist, deep, rich, and non-calcareous soil.

Pyrus pyrifolia or serotina, more commonly known as apple-pear, Japanese pear, Asian pear, or sand pear, belongs to the Rosaceae family, like the pear tree or the apple tree. It originates from China and Japan. "Nashi" is a Japanese word that can be translated as "pear" which refers to both the shrub and the fruit. Although the Nashi is not the result of a cross between an apple tree and a pear tree, its fruits are sometimes called "apple-pear" as they resemble apples while having the texture of pears.

It is a very productive species, with rapid fruiting and abundant and regular fruit production. It forms a small tree with a fairly erect framework that can reach 4 to 5m (13 to 16ft) in height, producing many slightly arched branches with a spreading habit. Its habit is well suited to tall forms (on a stem) or low forms (in a goblet shape). Its deciduous foliage is composed of large, alternate, lanceolate, shiny dark green leaves, 7 to 10cm (3 to 4in) long, taking on autumnal shades of yellow-orange-red before falling. Flowering occurs in April, which usually protects it from frost. The melliferous single white flowers, 3 to 4cm (1 to 2in) in diameter, are grouped in umbels. They can be destroyed by frost from -2 to -3°C (28.4 to 26.6°F). It is a hardy tree that tolerates temperatures around -15°C (5°F), suitable for cultivation in all regions. This Japanese Pear is said to be self-sterile or self-incompatible; the flowers cannot fertilise themselves. That is why the presence of other pear trees nearby, which flower at the same time, is necessary for cross-pollination, and thus increase the number of fruits. For example, the varieties Nashi Hosui, Nashi Shinseiki, or the Williams pear trees are good pollinators. It can also be a good pollinator for other pear trees.

The harvest begins around mid-August, and continues until September. The fruits are consumed as they ripen. The nashi is ripe when the skin is smooth and taut, and the fruit is soft around the stalk. The nashi can be eaten raw or cooked. Raw, it is pleasant to bite into with the skin, which sets it apart from other fruits. It is appreciated in jams, compotes, pastries (pies, crumbles, etc.), and desserts where it pairs well with chocolate or rhubarb or with panna cotta, not to mention fruit salads. It is important to harvest the fruits when they are ripe, as they do not ripen further after harvest.

The nashi is refreshing, thirst-quenching, and rich in water. Low in calories, it is rich in potassium and magnesium, with a significant copper content. Its content of vitamins C and K, antioxidants, and fibres makes the Japanese pear a health asset. It is invigorating, energising, and rehydrating. The fruits can be stored from a few weeks to three months after harvest. Store in a cool place, protected from light at a temperature around 8 to 10°C (46.4 to 50°F) or in a cold room, sealed off from outside air at a temperature of 1 to 3°C (33.8 to 37.4°F).

The Nashi is easy to grow. It likes moist and deep soils, but it fears excessively filtering and calcareous soils. Pruning for ventilation, by removing some branches in the centre of the tree, will admit light and give the fruits a beautiful colour. This will also limit the occurrence of diseases. It finds its place in an orchard or in an ecological country hedge. Appreciated for its fruit qualities, its elegant habit and autumn colours also make it a decorative addition to the garden. It is a real plus in the garden.