Pyrus communis
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- PY-russ kom-YOO-nis
- Description
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The common pear, native to Europe and northern Iraq, produces the familiar teardrop-shaped fruit seen in stores. Many cultivars are available with varying sizes, shapes, and colors of fruit.
The tree is usually grafted onto dwarf rootstalk to maintain a shorter size. It is tolerant of a variety of soil types including clay. Fruit production is best when two or more varieties are planted together.
Problems, Pests and Diseases: Susceptible to fireblight, anthracnose, canker, scab and powdery mildew. Insect visitors include pear psylla, coddling moth and borers.
VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Vegetables, Herbs, Fruits, and Nuts" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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'Harrow Delight'
Early bearing 'Harrow Sweet'
Very productive; needs heavy thinning 'Harvest Queen'
Can be harvested several days earlier than Bartlett 'Kieffer'
Can tolerate both drought and flooding 'Magness'
Upright; both productive and beautiful 'Moonglow'
Vigorous growth habit; needs at least two cultivars to ensure adequate pollination 'Seckel'
Easy to grow; very productive - 'Harrow Delight', 'Harrow Sweet', 'Harvest Queen', 'Kieffer', 'Magness', 'Moonglow', 'Seckel'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
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'Harrow Delight'
Early bearing 'Harrow Sweet'
Very productive; needs heavy thinning 'Harvest Queen'
Can be harvested several days earlier than Bartlett 'Kieffer'
Can tolerate both drought and flooding 'Magness'
Upright; both productive and beautiful 'Moonglow'
Vigorous growth habit; needs at least two cultivars to ensure adequate pollination 'Seckel'
Easy to grow; very productive - 'Harrow Delight', 'Harrow Sweet', 'Harvest Queen', 'Kieffer', 'Magness', 'Moonglow', 'Seckel'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Pyrus
- Species:
- communis
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Grafting
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe to N. Iraq
- Edibility:
- Fruits edible raw, cooked, or dried. Sweet and fragrant.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 40 ft. 0 in. - 50 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 25 ft. 0 in. - 35 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Spreading
- Maintenance:
- High
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12-24 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Fragrant
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Pome
- Fruit Length:
- > 3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- > 3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- Variable fruit sizes, shapes, and colors. Teardrop shapes are most commonly known.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Corymb
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Saucer
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- White flowers with all parts in fives in clusters in the spring.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Smooth
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblong
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 1-4 inch long green, oval, alternate leaves with serrated edges. Yellow fall color.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Fissured
- Furrowed
- Lenticels
- Bark Description:
- The bark is smooth and gray with lenticels becoming blocky or furrowed with age.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Bud Scales:
- Enclosed in more than 2 scales
- Stem Form:
- Zig Zags
- Stem Lenticels:
- Conspicuous
- Stem Description:
- Dwarf shoots on old wood. New stems are pointed.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Meadow
- Landscape Theme:
- Edible Garden
- Design Feature:
- Flowering Tree
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Songbirds
- Problems:
- Frequent Disease Problems
- Frequent Insect Problems
