Pyrus communis André Desportes - Pear Tree

The Pear Tree André Desportes produces a medium to large-sized, pear-shaped fruit with an obtuse form and a slightly bulging shape. Its thin skin is yellowish-green, punctuated and veined with russet, taking on carmine pink shades when exposed to sunlight. Its white flesh is firm, delicate, melting, juicy, sweet, pleasantly tart, and fragrant. The harvest occurs from late July to late August; the fruits are consumed as soon as they are picked and only kept for a few days, as they ripen quickly. Pleasantly tart and rich in sugar, it is a dessert pear, invigorating and refreshing, delicious to eat raw. When cooked, it is well-suited for many sweet or savoury recipes and for making preserved pears in syrup. It is a partially self-fertile variety that requires the presence of other pear varieties nearby to improve pollination and increase the number of fruits—a robust pear tree resistant to diseases, especially scab.

The Pyrus communis (Common Pear) is a fruit tree belonging to the Rosaceae family. Present in Europe since ancient times, it originates from forests in Western Asia. In France, pear trees appeared in the 16th century, when several species were cultivated in the king's gardens under the reign of Louis XIV. Over the centuries, a vast number of cultivars have appeared. Its cultivation is widespread in Europe.

The André Desportes variety was created and obtained around 1854 by Mr. André Leroy (1801-1875), a famous nurseryman from Angers, who dedicated this variety to the eldest son of Mr. Baptiste Desportes, the director of the commercial part of his establishment. It is derived from a seedling of William's. This pear tree forms a tree with a somewhat upright, pyramidal framework, reaching approximately 5 meters (16 feet) in height and 4 meters (13 feet) in width at maturity, producing many significant and long branches relatively upright. Its habit is well-suited for tall forms (on a standard), low forms (bush), or trained forms (fan-trained). Its deciduous foliage comprises large, alternate, ovate, shiny green leaves that turn yellow-orange in autumn. Flowering occurs in early April, sometimes making it sensitive to spring frosts, so a sheltered location is preferable. The single white flowers, 2 to 3 cm (1in) in diameter, are nectar-rich and grouped in umbels. They can be destroyed by frost from -2 to -3°C. It is a hardy tree that tolerates temperatures around -25°C and is suitable for cultivation in all regions of France, including at high altitudes. This Pear tree is self-sterile or self-incompatible; the flowers cannot fertilize themselves. That is why the presence of other pear varieties nearby, flowering at the same time, is necessary. For example, varieties like Conference, Comtesse de Paris, Doyenne du Comice, Duchesse d'Angoulême, Louise Bonne d'Avranches, William's Bon Chrétien, William's Rouge are suitable for cross-pollination and increasing the number of fruits.

The André Desportes Pear Tree is a high-yielding variety with rapid fruiting and abundant and regular fruit production. Harvesting begins in late July, and the fruits are consumed as soon as they are picked as they ripen. The pear can be consumed both raw and cooked, in compotes, pastries, and desserts, in fruit salads or mixed salads, in combination with cheeses or as an accompaniment to savoury dishes, alongside ducks, white meats (poultry and lamb), or game. It is also perfect for making juice or preserved fruits in syrup. Rich in water, the pear refreshes and quenches thirst. Very fleshy, it provides an incredible feeling of satiety. Moderately calorie-dense, it is well-supplied with potassium, calcium, and magnesium, with a significant iron content. It's content of vitamins C and E, antioxidants, and fibre makes the pear a health asset. It is invigorating, energizing, and rehydrating. Harvesting the fruits a few days before they reach full ripeness is preferable, as they do not over-ripen quickly, but they can only be stored for a few days.

Very popular, thanks to its fruits, the pear tree finds its place in the garden for the pleasure of young and old.