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Plants that fill a similar niche:
Fragaria x ananassa Close up of flower
Malus domestica Form in bloom
Prunus persica Form in Bloom
Pyrus communis has some common insect problems:
Fruit Development
Wood Boring Beetles in Trees
Pyrus communis has some common disease problems:
Fire Blight
Anthracnose diseases of trees
Pyrus communis has some other problems:
Growing Edibles in the Landscape

Common Pear Pyrus communis

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
PY-russ kom-YOO-nis
Description

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:
'Harrow Delight', 'Harrow Sweet', 'Harvest Queen', 'Kieffer', 'Magness', 'Moonglow', 'Seckel'
Tags:
#cultivars#edible plant#white flowers#flowering tree#fruit tree#edible fruits#edible garden#pomes#ebh-fn#disease problems#vhfn#vhfn-f
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
'Harrow Delight', 'Harrow Sweet', 'Harvest Queen', 'Kieffer', 'Magness', 'Moonglow', 'Seckel'
Tags:
#cultivars#edible plant#white flowers#flowering tree#fruit tree#edible fruits#edible garden#pomes#ebh-fn#disease problems#vhfn#vhfn-f
  • 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.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Edible
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Spreading
    Maintenance:
    High
    Texture:
    Medium
  • 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
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Lawn
    Meadow
    Landscape Theme:
    Edible Garden
    Design Feature:
    Flowering Tree
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Songbirds
    Problems:
    Frequent Disease Problems
    Frequent Insect Problems