Pyrus communis Beurré Lebrun - Pear Tree

The Buerre Lebrun Pear Tree produces a medium to large, conical, elongated fruit, slightly blunt and almost always bossed towards the top. Its yellowish-green skin is thin, shiny, spotted with light brown and widely mottled with tawny near the eye and the stem. Its yellowish-white flesh is semi-fine, firm, melting, very juicy, very sweet, slightly acidic, with a musky aroma, and almost seedless. Harvesting takes place from mid-September to mid-October, the fruits can be consumed as soon as they are picked and only keep for a few days, as they ripen quite quickly. Subtly acidic and rich in sugar, it is a delicious dessert pear. When cooked, it lends itself well to many sweet or savoury recipes, making excellent pear syrup, or 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. It is very resistant to diseases and scab. Excellent pollinator for other varieties.

Pyrus communis (Common Pear) is a fruit tree belonging to the Rosaceae family. Present in Europe since ancient times, it is native to the forests of Western Asia. Over the centuries, a very large number of cultivars have appeared. Its cultivation is widely spread in Europe.

The Buerre Lebrun variety, also known as Le Brun, was obtained, around 1856, by Mr. Denis Gueniot, a nurseryman in Troyes, in the Aube department. It is the result of cross-breeding between the varieties Beurré d'Arenberg and Doyenné d'Hiver. This pear tree forms a fairly erect tree that can reach approximately 5 metres (16 feet) high and 4 metres (13 feet) wide when fully grown, producing numerous spreading branches. Its habit is well suited to low forms (bush) or trained forms (espalier, fan), avoid growing as tall standards, as the fruits easily fall off. Its deciduous foliage is composed of large, 8 to 10 cm (3 to 4in) long, alternate, ovate, shiny green leaves, taking on yellow-orange autumnal shades. Flowering occurs in April, which generally protects it from frost. The white, single, nectar-rich flowers, are 2 to 3 cm (1in) in diameter 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, including high altitudes. This pear tree is self-sterile or self-incompatible, meaning the flowers cannot self-pollinate. This is why it needs the presence of other pear varieties in its proximity, whose flowering occurs at the same time. For example, varieties such as Beurré Hardy, Conference, Doyenné du Comice, Jules Guyot, Louise Bonne d'Avranches, William's Bon Chrétien, William's Rouge are suitable for cross-pollination, thus increasing the number of fruits.

The Buerre Lebrun Pear Tree is a high-yielding, very fertile variety, with fairly slow initial fruiting then abundant and regular fruiting. Harvesting begins in late September, and the fruits can be picked and eaten as soon as they they ripen. Pears can be eaten raw or cooked, in compotes, pastries and desserts, in fruit salads or mixed salads, in combination with cheeses or as an accompaniment to savoury dishes, alongside duck, white meats (poultry and lamb), or game and are also perfect for making juice or preserved fruits in syrup. Pears are rich in water, refreshing and thirst-quenching. They are very fleshy and satisfying. Pears are moderately calorific, rich in potassium, calcium, and magnesium, with a significant iron content. The content of vitamins C and E, antioxidants, and fibre make pears a healthy, invigorating, energising, and rehydrating choice. It is best to harvest the fruits a few days before they reach full ripeness, as they do not over-ripen quickly, but they can only be stored for a few days, maybe a few weeks if the storage conditions are optimal.

The pear tree is very popular in the garden for its fruits. Among a wide range of pear trees, it is easy to find a variety that suits you.