Pyrus communis Williams Bon Chrétien Pear Tree

The Williams Pear, or Williams Bon Chrétien, is the most widely grown pear in the world due to its ease of cultivation. Its fruits, ripening to a yellow colour, offer a fine, melting, sweet, and fragrant flesh. Fairly large, with a diameter of about 7 cm (3in), they can be harvested as early as August and can be stored perfectly until November either in a well-ventilated cellar or in the refrigerator. This variety is a very good pollinator for most other pear trees. Its fruiting will be better accompanied by a 'Conference' or 'Guyot' pear tree.

The pear tree is native to central Asia, cultivated in China for 6,000 years. It was introduced to Europe around the 6th century. The Williams Pear, or Bon Chrétien Williams, or also called Bartlett in the USA, originated in the United Kingdom (1796). It is the work of an English schoolteacher, Stair Wheeler, from a natural seedling in his garden. It would then take until the beginning of the 19th century for this variety to spread thanks to a nurseryman named Williams from Turnham.

The Williams Pear will appreciate protected and sunny locations; avoid frost-prone and windy situations. Easy to grow, it likes moist and deep soils, but it dislikes excessively draining and alkaline soils. In winter, give it a shovelful of wood ash, rich in potash, which will improve flowering and fruit quality.
Its semi-erect habit gives it a very elegant pyramidal silhouette, and it is practical for harvesting. Its leaves have an oval lamina, finely toothed on the edge, with a petiole as long as the lamina and measuring about 8 to 9 cm (3 to 4in).
Its flowering is late, starting in early April, protecting it from frosts. Its flowers are formed by 5 white-pink petals. While they are partially self-fertile, it is strongly recommended to plant another pear tree nearby. Indeed, the pear tree is more inclined to cross-pollination. Its most commonly used pollinators are the varieties Doyenné du Comice, Conference, Packams, Guyot, Giffard, General Leclerc, Angelys cov, and Alexandrine Douillard. However, it is not compatible with Louise Bonne and Williams Rouge. Being entomophilous, pollination is mainly ensured by bees.
This variety is known for its yellow fruits at ripeness, offering a fine, melting, sweet, and fragrant flesh, delicious to bite into. It provides a very good yield. Maturity occurs early, in the month of August.

Pears can be consumed fresh, in syrup, in pastries, in jams and compotes, and can be used to make alcoholic beverages.