Long-lived deciduous fruit tree of European origin. Most varieties need cross-pollination and a long, cool autumn to ripen well.
Hardiness ratings
| System | Rating | Temperature range | How to read it |
|---|---|---|---|
| USDA hardiness zone | Zone 4–9 | −34.4 °C to −1.1 °C | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
| RHS hardiness rating | H7 | down to −20 °C | Plant needs at least this level of cold tolerance |
| Canadian plant hardiness zone | Zone 4–9 | −29 °C and warmer | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
| Australian (ANBG) zone | Zone 1–5 | −15 °C to 10 °C | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
About Pear — European
Pears are close relatives of apples and are grown the same way — grafted onto rootstocks, usually needing a compatible partner nearby to set fruit — but they behave differently in one respect that surprises people. European pears do not ripen well on the tree: left to hang, they tend to go soft and grainy from the core outwards. They are picked mature but hard and finished off the tree. Pear wood is dense and fine-grained, historically prized for woodwind instruments and drawing instruments. Trees are long-lived, and specimens well over a century old still crop.
Growing notes
- Fire blight (Erwinia amylovora) is the major disease risk in humid summers
- Pears are picked under-ripe and finished off the tree — do not wait for full softening on the branch
Categories
Related plants
Cross-check Pear — European against your zones