Pyrus communis Poire de Fisée - Pear Tree

The Pear Tree 'Pear de Fisée' or 'Rocket Pear' produces a small to medium-sized, elongated, conical fruit, with bumps, very thin in its upper part and quite bulging at its base. Its rough skin is green, turning golden yellow with greenish reflections when ripe, dotted with russet and taking on reddish shades when exposed to sunlight. Its flesh is white, semi-fine, semi-melting, not very juicy, slightly bitter and not very tasty. Harvesting extends from early October to mid-November, the fruits do not keep for long, they are best cooked and eaten as soon as they are picked. They turn pinkish-red when cooked and are used to make compotes, jams, candied pears, 'poires tapées' (a specialty of Touraine) or 'perry', a sparkling alcoholic beverage. 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.

Plant from Organic Agriculture

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

The 'Poire de Fisée', also known as 'Rocket Pear' or 'Fizet Pear', originates from Upper Saxony (Germany), described around 1540 by Valerius Cordus (1515-1544), a German scholar. Its name may come from its shape resembling the spindle used in the past for spinning wool.

This pear tree forms a tree with a pyramidal structure, reaching approximately 6 metres (20 feet) in height and 4 metres (13 feet) in width when fully grown with many large upright branches. Its habit is well suited to tall forms (on a standard) or low forms (bush-shaped) and occasionally espaliered (fan-trained). Its deciduous foliage is composed of large, 8 to 10 cm (3 to 4in) long, alternate, ovate, shiny green leaves with yellow-orange hues in autumn. Flowering occurs in April, which usually protects it from frost. The simple, white 2 to 3 cm (1in) diameter, nectar-bearing flowers are grouped in umbels. They can be destroyed by frost at temperatures below -2 to -3°C (28.4 to 26.6°F). It is a hardy tree that tolerates temperatures around -25°C (-13°F), it is suitable for cultivation in all regions, including at high altitudes. This Pear tree is self-sterile or self-incompatible, the flowers cannot fertilise themselves. That is why you will need the presence of other pear varieties nearby, flowering at the same time. For example, the varieties Beurré Hardy, Conference, Doyenné du Comice, Jules Guyot, William's Bon Chrétien, William's Rouge are suitable for cross-pollination, thus increasing the number of fruits.

The 'Pear de Fisée' is a very fertile, quick-fruiting variety with abundant and regular fruit production. The harvest begins in early November, and the fruits should be cooked and eaten as soon as they are picked. It is medium in calories, rich in potassium, calcium and magnesium, with a significant iron content. Its content of vitamins C and E, antioxidants, and fibres makes the pear a healthy, invigorating, energising, and rehydrating choice. The fruits can be stored for only a few weeks after harvesting, rarely beyond mid-November. Store in a cool, clean place, protected from light at a temperature around 8 to 10°C (46.4 to 50°F) or in a cold room, airtight to the outside air, at a temperature of 1 to 3°C (33.8 to 37.4°F).

Thanks to its fruits, the pear tree is popular in the garden for the pleasure of young and old. Among the wide range of pear trees, it is easy to find a variety to suits one's taste.