Pyrus communis 'Blake's Pride'
- Description
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'Blakes Pride' is a hybrid European pear in the rose family (Rosaceae) and was named in honor of Roland C. Blake, who worked at the USDA Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center. It was introduced in 1999 and parentage is US 446 x US 505.
'Blakes Pride' requires 800 chill hours and needs to be planted with another variety for pollination. Trees can be grafted to dwarf or semi-dwarf stock for heights of 8 to 10 feet or 10 to 15 feet, respectively. Plant in full sun in moist, well-drained, fertile soil. Here is an NC State guide to caring for fruit trees, including dealing with insects and diseases. It is resistant to fire blight and pear scab.
The white, fragrant spring flowers are followed by edible fruits in September. The pears have yellow skins with off-white sweet flesh that can be enjoyed raw or cooked, canned or frozen.
Pears are grown commercially or in the home edible garden.
nsects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: Susceptible to anthracnose, canker, scab and powdery mildew. Insect visitors include pear psylla, coddling moth and borers.
VIDEO Created by Laura Barth for "Vegetables, Herbs, Fruits, and Nuts," a plant identification course developed in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Pyrus
- Species:
- communis
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Grafting
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- High
- Texture:
- Coarse
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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
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12-24 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Length:
- > 3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- The pear skin is golden-yellow, flecked with lenticels and patches of russet. The flesh is off-white and sweet. Matures in September.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Corymb
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- 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
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblanceolate
- Oblong
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 1 to 4 inch long, green, oval, alternate leaves with serrated edges—yellow fall color.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Furrowed
- Lenticels
- Bark Description:
- The bark is smooth and gray with lenticels becoming blocky or furrowed with age.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Bud Terminal:
- Only 1 terminal bud, larger than side buds
- Stem Description:
- Young twigs are glossy reddish-brown, often developing a scaly, grey-brown, and slightly furrowed bark as they mature. i produces numerous dwarf shoots on older wood, needed for fruiting.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Meadow
- Landscape Theme:
- Edible Garden
- Design Feature:
- Flowering Tree
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Problems:
- Frequent Disease Problems
- Frequent Insect Problems
