Pyrus communis 'Seckel'
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- PY-russ kom-YOO-nis KOM-yoo-nis
- Description
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'Seckel' is a cultivar and smaller version of Pyrus communis, or the common pear. The 'Seckel' pear is an easily grown, vigorous tree that produces a good crop of sweet fruit. It is cold-hardy, frost resistant and also resists fire blight, a common pear disease. As with most pear trees, 'Seckel' requires at least one different cultivar to ensure adequate pollinating.
'Seckel' does best in full sun and slightly acidic, deep, heavy and moist well-drained soil.
Pear trees cultivated for fruit are typically grafted onto rootstocks. That grafting influences the size of the tree, resistance to pests and diseases, time to fruiting maturity, and overall longevity. In the case of 'Seckel', grafting to dwarfing rootstocks produces a tree that can reach a height of 15 feet, with good disease resistance. This cultivar is partially self-fertile, but will produce larger yields with another individual nearby.
VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Edibles, Bulbs, and Houseplants," 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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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Pyrus
- Species:
- communis
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Edibility:
- It produces small-sized, yellowish-brown fruit. The fine-grained flesh is smooth, sweet and juicy. The aromatic and spicy taste makes it a great choice for spiced pears. It is also good for pickling and canning. Ripens in September.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 8 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Rounded
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- 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:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12-24 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Fragrant
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Pome
- Fruit Length:
- > 3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- > 3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- It produces small-sized, yellowish-brown fruit. The fine-grained flesh is smooth, sweet and juicy. The aromatic and spicy taste makes it a great choice for spiced pears. It is also good for pickling and canning. Ripens in September.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- 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 April and May.
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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:
- Orbicular
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Round, smooth leaves with serrated edges. More uniform than apple leaves and have more prominent veins.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Fissured
- Lenticels
- Scaly
- Bark Description:
- Similar to an apple tree; prominent lenticels that grow fissured and scaly with age.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Bud Scales:
- Enclosed in 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 Theme:
- Edible Garden
- Design Feature:
- Flowering Tree
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Songbirds
