5 named cultivars

fruit vegetable

Common Pear

Pyrus communis

$284.95

The Story

Plant Bio

Pyrus communis, the common or European pear, is a deciduous tree from Europe to northern Iraq, erect and spreading, reaching 40 to 50 ft tall and 25 to 35 ft wide on its own roots. Alternate oval leaves 1 to 4 in long have serrated edges and turn yellow in autumn. Grey bark becomes blocky and furrowed with age.

White cup to saucer-shaped flowers 1 to 3 in across open in corymbs in spring, ahead of most apple blossom. Nearly all cultivars need a compatible pollination partner. Pears are unusual among fruit in that they should be picked while still firm and ripened off the tree, or the flesh goes soft at the core.

Uses & Benefits:

Abundant white spring blossom, a handsome erect framework and clear yellow autumn leaf colour.

Dessert and cooking pears eaten raw, cooked or dried, and a tree that trains readily as an espalier or fan.

Flowers feed bees, butterflies and other pollinators, and windfall fruit is taken by birds and mammals.

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Fruit Vegetable

Height

540 inches

Width

360 inches

Light

Full Sun

Zones

4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Water

Medium; even moisture with free drainage

Humidity

Prefers drier air; wet springs worsen scab

Lifespan

Long-lived; well over a century on seedling roots

Native To

Europe to northern Iraq

Toxicity

No significant toxicity reported; fruit is edible

Marketplace

Where to Buy

Fast Growing Trees

In Stock$284.95

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Planting

How to Grow

Choose a sheltered site in full sun; pears flower early and frost easily.
Select a rootstock sized to your space and soil.
Check the cultivar's pollination group and plant a compatible partner.
Plant while dormant with the graft union clear of the soil.
Prune in winter to an open framework and thin crowded spurs.
Pick while firm and ripen the fruit indoors at room temperature.

Pro Tip

Pick pears firm and ripen them off the tree; left to soften on the branch they go brown and mealy at the core.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Plant two compatible cultivars for reliable fruit set 🍐
Site trees away from frost pockets ❄️
Prune to an open centre in winter ✂️
Ripen picked fruit indoors at room temperature 🏠

Don't

Do not leave fruit to soften on the tree ❌
Do not overfeed with nitrogen; soft growth invites disease ❌
Do not plant a single tree and expect a full crop ❌

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Harvest
Winter Pruning

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Orchard and garden fruit treeTrained espalier or fan against a sunny wallSpring blossom tree in a lawn or meadow edge

Companion Plants

Comfrey Chives Daffodil Borage Yarrow

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Common Pear questions

What zones can Common Pear grow in?

Common Pear is hardy in USDA Zones 4–8. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

Is Common Pear deer resistant?

Not reliably. Deer may browse Common Pear, especially tender spring growth — plan on repellents or fencing where pressure is high.

When does Common Pear bloom?

Common Pear typically blooms in mid-spring, white corymbs through late spring. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Does Common Pear need full sun?

Common Pear does best in full sun (6+ hours).