Pear Tree: Planting, Pruning and Care

Description and botany

The genus Pyrus comprises 65 species distributed across a vast territory ranging from temperate Eurasia to North Africa and belongs to the Rosaceae family. The Common Pear (Pyrus communis) is the fruit tree native to Central Asia, domesticated in China over 6000 years ago for the flavour of its pears. Introduced to Europe around the 6th century, the Pear tree gave rise to a multitude of varieties, which were already being propagated by grafting in Roman times. While its development during the Middle Ages remained limited, nearly 200 varieties were counted by the Renaissance. Since then, the number of varieties has continued to increase. It is now cultivated in all French regions below 1000 m altitude, benefiting from a mild and temperate climate.

The pear tree has good longevity, hard wood and relatively slow growth in its natural habitat. The wild form can reach 12 to 15 m in height, while cultivated forms measure 3 to 5 m. The habit of pear trees varies according to the variety, ranging from a spindle shape with short branches to a broad, spreading or even trailing habit. Its brown or dark grey bark cracks into square patterns.

The alternate leaves are single, dark green and glossy with a glabrous light green underside, which helps distinguish it from the apple tree, whose lower surface is villous. They are borne on a slender petiole almost as long as the lamina, creating a rustling sound at the slightest breeze. The leaves adopt a beautiful golden yellow autumn colour, often with reddish-orange hues.

Pyrus communis – botanical illustration by PJ Redouté

The Nashi (Pyrus pyrifolia) is a Far Eastern species with almost round fruits resembling apples, hence its other name, apple-pear. It is also called Asian pear or Japanese pear. Its very crunchy and juicy flesh has a short shelf life and is eaten only raw after removing the bronze-coloured skin speckled with cream. The species was introduced and cultivated in France only from the 1980s, particularly in the South-West, as the tree tolerates frosts only down to -15°C. Not self-fertile, this species can be pollinated by the common pear, such as the Williams variety, renowned for being an excellent pollinator for most pear trees.

There are pear trees with small, astringent fruits, grown solely for ornament, such as Pyrus calleryana Chanticleer. The latter is distinguished by its narrow conical habit, thorny branches, abundant flowering and, above all, a very beautiful red and magenta autumn colour, explaining its frequent use along roads or avenues. Another species, Pyrus salicifolia Pendula (willow-leaved pear), offers elongated silvery foliage reminiscent of the olive tree and a weeping habit, reaching 5 to 6 m in height with a 4 m spread. It makes a beautiful specimen tree, with the added advantage of tolerating dry soils, sea spray and cold.

The flowering of the Pear tree appears as clusters of white flowers about 3 cm in diameter, before leafing, quite early in spring in March-April. They attract many bumblebees and bees, which aid in their pollination, as few are self-fertile. The Williams variety is renowned for being a good pollinator for all varieties. The flowers consist of 5 green sepals and 5 white or pinkish petals, with a central cluster of red stamens surrounding the pistil. The Pear tree can be prone to biennial bearing (a good year followed by a poor one); in this case, thinning the young fruits after the June drop helps mitigate this issue.

Pears are pome fruits that come in various shapes, elongated, conical, bulbous or cylindrical, with the fruit’s tip widening and bearing the remains of sepals and stamens at its apex. Like the apple, it is a pseudocarp or pome, formed by the swelling of the flower’s receptacle, which encloses the carpel containing the seeds (core). In smaller varieties close to the wild pear, the fruit measures 5 cm long, while the largest, such as Beurré Clairgeau, can weigh up to 700 g. The green epidermis turns yellow, sometimes tinged with pink, red or bronze at ripeness, occasionally with a grey-speckled appearance. Heritage pears bearing the name ‘Beurré’, like Beurré Hardy, have particularly melting flesh, especially when picked just before ripeness. Others have a granular, so-called stony texture due to the presence of cells with very thick walls (sclereids). Pears with a musky flavour, like Bon Chrétien, are the origin of the Williams pear, also called Williams Bon Chrétien or Bartlett, of which there is a red-skinned version called Red Bartlett. Some pears, like Conference, need to be picked 15 days before ripeness, in late September-early October, to allow for long storage until January. The taste qualities of pears depend greatly on growing conditions, so it is important to check if the variety is well-suited to your region. However, soil constraints can be mitigated by choosing an appropriate rootstock, as nursery-grown Pear trees are always grafted. The rootstock also influences the plant’s vigour, enabling certain training methods, such as standard trees grafted onto ‘pear seedling’ or espaliers grafted onto ‘quince’.

Pyrus communis: flowers and fruits

The main pear tree varieties

Most Popular Varieties

Nashi Varieties

Pyrus communis Beurre Hardy - Pear Tree

Very hardy and productive variety, adapted to all climates up to 800m altitude. Rounded pears with smooth skin, green-bronze with fine, juicy white flesh, very sweet, endowed with a powerful and flavoursome aroma that has made its reputation. Harvest in September and October.

• Flowering time May
• Height at maturity 3 m

See the product sheet

Pyrus communis Delbardèlice - Pear Tree

Regularly productive variety with large pale yellow fruits, very fragrant and flavoursome, with fine, juicy flesh that is very pleasant to taste, to be harvested in September for immediate consumption. Tree highly resistant to diseases.

• Flowering time May
• Height at maturity 5 m

See the product sheet

Pyrus communis Williams Bon Chrétien Pear Tree

Variety known worldwide as Williams Pear or Bartlett in the USA, productive and self-fertile, with plump green-yellow buttery pears, harvested in mid-August, which are sweet, juicy and melting. To be planted in a sunny position, sheltered from wind and cold (early flowering).

• Flowering time May
• Height at maturity 6 m

See the product sheet

Pyrus communis Doyenné du Comice - Pear Tree

Originating from Maine-et-Loire, often considered the best of pears, its large plump fruits with thin, green-yellow skin offer fine, juicy and fragrant flesh. To be harvested towards the end of September when the fruit detaches when slightly turned. Variety well suited to storage.

• Flowering time May
• Height at maturity 7 m

See the product sheet

Pyrus communis Conférence - Pear Tree

Very hardy variety, not frost-prone and little susceptible to scab, adapted to all regions of France. Green pears irregularly marbled with brown, elongated in the shape of a water drop. Sweet, juicy and slightly firm flesh. Harvest before ripeness in early October to ensure good storage.

• Flowering time April, May
• Height at maturity 6 m

See the product sheet

Pyrus communis Delbard Gourmande - Pear Tree

Regularly productive variety with fragrant fruits appreciated for their balanced sweet-tart flavour similar to Doyenne du Comice. Melting and juicy flesh with aromas of banana and English sweets, with scents of tobacco, mushrooms and mint. Well-picked and stored pears keep for 2 to 3 months. Easy-to-grow tree, plant in autumn, harvest in October.

• Flowering time May
• Height at maturity 5 m

See the product sheet

Nashi Shinseiki - Apple-Pear

Asian pear forming a vigorous ornamental and fruit-bearing tree. Produces from mid-August round fruits with thick, smooth green-yellow skin, with crisp white juicy flesh. Hardy bush, sensitive to late frosts, but needing winter cold to fruit.

• Flowering time April, May
• Height at maturity 4,50 m

See the product sheet

Nashi Hosui Abundance - Apple-Pear

Spreading tree with pretty pink flowering and yellow to red autumn foliage. Fairly large fruit, similar to an apple, with a pear taste and bronze skin. Refreshing, fragrant and juicy flesh. Harvest in August. Good storage when kept cool. Can be pollinated by Williams.

• Flowering time May
• Height at maturity 5 m

See the product sheet

Planting

Where to Plant a Pear Tree?

The pear tree can be grown in an orchard or garden, either as a free-standing tree or trained against a support. Choose a south-east or south-west facing position.

As it requires warmth, plant it in a sheltered spot away from prevailing winds, especially north of the Loire. Pear trees thrive in cool, rich soil, but dislike overly dry or chalky soil. Some varieties like Garden Gem® or Garden Pearl® have dwarf habits, making them suitable for growing in the ground or in pots in small spaces.

Like the Apple Tree, Pear Trees require another variety nearby (a pollinator) for good fruiting. Williams has a spreading flowering period, enabling it to pollinate most varieties as well as nashi species.

Nashi (Pyrus pyrifolia)

When to Plant?

Pear trees sold as bare-root plants are best planted between October and March, avoiding frost periods. Trees supplied in containers can be planted year-round, except during extreme heat or frost, provided watering is monitored.

How to Plant?

If your pear tree is container-grown:

• Soak the pot in a bucket of water to moisten thoroughly.
• Loosen the soil deeply, removing stones and weeds.
• Add gravel to improve drainage if needed.
• Dig a wide planting hole at least 3 times the rootball’s volume. Separate topsoil and subsoil.
• Mix ground horn (nitrogen-rich), base fertiliser (phosphorus and potassium-rich) and organic matter (compost, etc.) with the subsoil and place this mix at the bottom of the hole.
• Position the rootball, backfill with topsoil without burying the graft union, and firm. Water generously (around 10 litres).
• Staking may be beneficial using a guy-wire system: position 3 stakes in a triangle 50cm from the trunk, connect them with wooden battens. Protect the bark with rubber padding and secure the trunk to the stakes with wire.

If your pear tree is bare-root:

• Prepare a slurry mix of 1/3 fine soil or compost, 1/3 cow manure or compost, and 1/3 rainwater. If cow manure is unavailable, pre-made slurry is sold commercially.
• Prune any damaged roots to create clean cuts.
• Dip the roots in the slurry to prevent air pockets forming between roots and soil.

Pear trees can also be trained against a support (e.g., U-shaped espalier or Verrier palmette):

• Install a sturdy framework before planting: end posts with braces and intermediate posts.
• Stretch wire between posts.
• Use soft ties to secure shoots intended as main branches.

Pear trees trained against a wall and as cordons

Pruning, care, potential diseases

• Every autumn, apply well-rotted compost to the surface. Then, in winter, add a small spadeful of wood ash, rich in potash, to improve fruit production.
• Hoe around the base of the tree to remove weeds, especially under the edge of the crown where the absorbent roots are located.
• Water regularly, depending on your climate, during the first two or three years.
• In June, when the pears are pre-formed, thin them out: keep only 1 to 2 fruits per cluster, favouring those on the outer edges. Your pears will then reach a larger size. Learn more in our tutorial Why and How to Thin Fruit Trees?

Potential Diseases and Pests

Pear trees can be susceptible to various diseases and pests. Fire Blight has caused serious damage in France in the past, so the most susceptible varieties are banned from planting. However, it’s still important to remain vigilant if you notice sudden wilting of certain branches, especially after flowering.

To prevent Scab (brown spots on leaves), Brown Rot (wilting flowers and fruit rotting on the tree), and Powdery Mildew (white coating on leaves), spray preventively with Bordeaux mixture and/or horsetail decoctions.

As for pests, the Codling Moth or fruit worm, a small caterpillar, can be countered by installing bird and bat boxes, placing corrugated cardboard bands along the trunk, and wrapping fruits in brown kraft paper. In case of Aphid attacks, spray a mixture of water and black soap.

Pear Midge attacks can be alarming due to the number of pear shoots whose tips suddenly blacken and curl into a crozier in May-June. The egg-laying of this small wasp has little impact on the tree’s life but disrupts the harmonious growth of new shoots. The eggs hatch once the tip has blackened, and the larvae then tunnel until the following spring in the underlying section. Cut these shoots 10 cm below the withered part before burning them, or let starlings and sparrows feast on the larvae.

→ Learn more about pear tree diseases and pests in our advice sheet!

Pruning the Pear Tree

The pear tree is a pip fruit tree that can be pruned in the same way as an apple tree. Trained forms (espaliers) are the most demanding in terms of pruning to maintain their structure, whether double U, palmette, or cordon. Prune in December-January, before apple trees, which flower later, and apply a three-bud pruning technique, leaving 3 buds on each wood shoot to transform them into fruiting spurs. However, pre-trained trees already have buds (large, rounded buds) that simply need to be retained in sufficient quantity during pruning. Pinching in July can complement winter pruning and correct mistakes: leave 7 leaves after a fruit and remove non-fruit-bearing shoots to allow sunlight to colour the fruits.

Natural forms like spindles or very trailing varieties such as Williams do not require pruning to improve fruiting.

For other cases, don’t worry—you can simply prune your tree every 2 or 3 years between November and March to carry out the following tasks:

• Remove any suckers growing at the base of the tree and water shoots developing on the trunk.
• Cut away dead or broken branches, as well as those that cross each other.
• Trim twigs and some branches growing inward to allow air and light to circulate in the crown.
• Prune branch tips above an outward-facing bud.

→ Also check out our advice sheet on biennial bearing in fruit trees and how to identify different buds and shoots for successful pruning.

Pruning the pear tree

→ Learn more about harvesting and storing apples and pears in our advice sheet.

Propagation

The most common propagation method for pear trees is grafting onto a rootstock grown from sowing, such as pear seedling or quince rootstock. This propagation technique remains best suited to experienced gardeners or professionals.

Sowing pear pips

• Remove the pips from a ripe pear, rinse them under cold water and dry them in a cloth.
• Let them dry for 2-3 days at temperatures below 15°C, stirring occasionally.
• Then stratify the pips in a pot by placing them between two layers of moistened sand for 3 months.

Uses and Combinations

Pear trees make excellent standalone specimens as they appreciate good sunlight. Space them at a distance equivalent to the height of the mature tree. You can train them as espaliered fruit hedges using wire, spaced at the height of the hedge, oriented north-south.

You can also insert them into a mixed hedge composed of a blend of fruit trees like apple trees and deciduous bushes, ensuring they avoid the shade of large trees.

A spring pairing idea: Euphorbia characias ssp wulfenii, Pyrus communis and daffodils

Create a large bed with the pear tree surrounded by shade-loving plants like peppermint, which serves as ground cover, or blueberries.

An interesting experiment showed that Spanish or Soisson beans (Phaseolus coccineus) could be trained to climb poles placed around the crown of a pear tree. This pairing reportedly helped protect the pears from codling moths, aphids, and sugar-hungry wasps in late summer. The bean harvest was also more abundant than from isolated poles. The large melliferous flowers of the beans likely contributed to attracting beneficial wildlife.

Dwarf pear trees like Garden Pearl or Garden Gem can be paired on a terrace with vegetable plots and small fruit bushes.