Asian pears (Pyrus pyrifolia)
Exposure: Full sun. Hardy to -25 degrees F.
Soil: Prefers rich, deep soil, but can tolerate clay soil better than most fruit trees. Prefers a circumneutral pH.
Growth habits: A beautiful pyramidal rounded tree to 20 feet covered in the spring with beautiful white flowers that produce abundant early fall fruit. Asian pears have very ornamental leaves with delightful fall color.
Landscape uses: An excellent accent tree, Asian pear is large enough to be used as a small shade tree and can produce delicious apple-shaped aromatic fruit in abundance. Requires cross-pollination.
Usefulness: Crisp, juicy, tree ripened fruit is an epicurean delight.
$30.00 / 3 gal (limited selection), $39.00 / 5 gal, $49.00 / 7 gal
Available Varieties
‘20th Century’ - Also known as ‘Nijisseiki’. This variety has sweet, slightly tart, firm, and juicy flesh. The fruit is round, greenish-yellow, and very uniform. Best for fresh eating and canning. Zone 6.
'Hosui' - From Japanese breeding program, introduced in 1972; (Kikusui x Yakumo) x Yakumo. It is an early season, russet type with a round globular shape and yellow to brownish-yellow skin, heavily russeted. It has a long storage life. The tree is vigorous, willowy and spreading. Good resistance to pear scab disease. Susceptible to fire blight. Debbie's favorite Asian pear.
'Shinko' - The “Butterscotch Pear”. ‘Shinko’ is a prolific producer of medium to large fruit with a dark golden skin. It is prized for its crisp, juicy flesh and sweet, butterscotch flavor. A good keeper and fireblight resistant, good for fresh eating and canning. Zone 4. This is the most disease-resistant variety and Debbie's other favorite Asian pear, so if you don't know what kind you want, get one of these and a different variety to go with it.
'Shinseiki' - A round, yellow-skinned, firm fruit that is early-maturing (late July) plus it stores well up to three months. One fo the most attractive pears. Trees are self-fruitful, but fruit more with another variety. Fruit holds on the tree well. Heavy thinning is necessary for good fruit size. Has some fire blight resistance.