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Pyrus communis 'Seckel'

Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
PY-russ kom-YOO-nis KOM-yoo-nis
Description

'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.   

More information on Pyrus communis.

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Tags:
#deciduous#edible plant#dwarf#flowering tree#fruit tree#disease resistant#edible garden#pomes#flowering
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#deciduous#edible plant#dwarf#flowering tree#fruit tree#disease resistant#edible garden#pomes#flowering
  • 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.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Edible
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Rounded
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Slow
    Maintenance:
    Medium
    Texture:
    Medium
  • 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
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Theme:
    Edible Garden
    Design Feature:
    Flowering Tree
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Songbirds