Pear Trees for Sale

Pear Trees – Buying & Growing Guide

by Mary Van Keuren | Gardener (30+ Years Experience) – last update on December 2, 2021

One of the easiest fruit trees to grow, pear trees require less fussing over than peaches or cherries. With minimal care and spraying, they should reward you with a bountiful harvest of fruit in four to six years. They are also attractive in the garden, especially when in bloom in spring.

How to Grow Pear Trees

How to plant pear trees

If you will be planting more than one pear tree to allow for cross-fertilization, choose a site where you can plant your saplings within 50 feet of each other. You’ll want a site in full sun (six hours or more daily), and with well-drained, fertile soil. Soil pH should be approximately 6.0-7.0.

At the planting site, dig a hole that’s larger than the root ball, and amend the soil in the bottom with compost, manure, or peat moss. Before planting, soak the sapling’s roots in water for several hours, then place the root ball in the hole with the top of the ball level with the ground. Backfill with compost and amended topsoil, and tamp it down carefully.

Shape a low berm around the trunk so that water stays within the root zone until it can seep down, and thoroughly water the newly-planted tree. If the sapling seems wobbly, or if you’ve planted it in a windy spot, stake it up with a bamboo or other type of stake for the first year or so.

How to achieve maximum results

Achieving maximum results with pear trees starts well before you dig the planting hole. Take some time to research the different varieties of tree to be sure you understand the differences between dwarf, semi-dwarf, and standard sizes. Look for varieties that are resistant to any diseases or pests that are common in your area. Your local county extension agent can tell you what to be on the lookout for.

How to Care for Pear Trees

Watering and nutrients

When newly planted, your pear trees will need regular watering, totaling about an inch per week. If you’re not getting a lot of rain, monitor your tree for dryness. If the ground around it appears dry and crumbly, increase watering. Once the tree is established, you should only need to water in drought conditions.

You don’t need to fertilize your tree in the year you plant it. After that, fertilize lightly in the spring with a product formulated for fruit trees. Avoid fertilizing after July 1, as this will encourage growth leading into the fall when the tree should instead be conserving its resources for winter.

Pollination

Some pear trees are self-pollinating, but in general it’s a good idea to have more than one pear tree in order to harvest the maximum amount of fruit. Pear trees are primarily pollinated by bees, and commercial growers often keep beehives among the trees to allow for the best results. At home, planting pollinator-friendly flowers near your pears will encourage bees to feed from your trees.

Pruning

Pear trees require annual pruning in late winter or early spring. First, prune out dead, diseased, and broken branches, as well as suckers at the base of the trunk. Then prune for shape, especially with young trees, which are usually pruned around a central leading branch surrounded by secondary branches. Cutting back most branches a few inches from the tip stimulates growth in the spring and will result in higher fruit yield.

Pests, diseases, and animals

You may need to spray your pear trees with a fungicide or fruit tree spray to control scab, septoria leaf spot, and other fungal diseases. Fire blight is also a particular problem with pear trees. If fire blight affects your tree, cut back any infected branches and clean the area around the tree carefully. A fire blight spray will also help.

Scale insects, tarnished plant bugs, leafrollers, and aphids may all appear on pear trees. Examine leaves and bark regularly, and if you see signs of insect activity, spray your trees with a horticultural spray or insecticide. Also consider investing in biological controls such as ladybugs, which eat aphids.

Harvesting

Your pear trees will begin to fruit four to six years after planting, if conditions are conducive to it. Pick pears when they are starting to turn yellow and pull off easily from the branch. Leave them to ripen on a counter for a few days and they will be ready to eat. If you planted Asian pears, however, let them ripen on the tree before harvesting.

Pear Tree Varieties

Callery Pears

These types of pear trees are small to medium in size, and they are deciduous. They are native to Vietnam and China, though they have become very popular in the United States, to the point that some of their cultivars have now become known as an invasive species in some regions. The ‘Bradford’ cultivar, in particular, is regarded as a nuisance, as it performs better than native trees, and is spread by birds who eat the fruits and then disperse the seeds in their droppings.

The tree is also problematic in many towns and cities because it was planted in urban areas where space was in short supply. It was deemed a good choice because of its narrow, upright growth, but over time these trees do spread their branches out wide. Improper pruning early in life has also led to much of these trees dropping their large branches after they reach 20 years in age, making them a nuisance in town and city landscaping. The fruits of these trees are small and not edible for humans, though they are loved by birds. Instead, these trees are cultivated for their ornamental beauty.

Cultivars of Callery Pears

1. Bradford Pear

Scientific Name: Pyrus calleryana ‘Bradford’

Mature Size: Up to 50 feet tall

USDA Hardiness Zone: 5-9

Light: Full sun

Water: Average moisture needs

Soil: Well-draining

Flower Color: White

Other Cultivars and Varieties: ‘Autumn Blaze’, ‘Redspire’, ‘Aristocrat’, ‘Whitehouse’

This deciduous pear tree is an ornamental species, as the fruits are inedible to humans. It has an upright habit when young, but branches out sideways with age to give a strong, pyramid shape. The foliage is a broad oval shape and is thick and leathery with a lustrous, glossy finish. They appear in a deep, dark green, and then warm up with the arrival of fall to bright shades of red and orange before dropping to the ground.

This variety of pear tree is an early bloomer, with a mass of flowers arriving at the beginning of spring. The flowers each have five petals in an off-white shade, and they hang in dense clusters all along the lengths of the branches. Though these flowers put on an impressive show, many people find their scent unpleasant. This is a truly stunning tree in bloom, and it is easy to see why it is among the most popular varieties of Callery Pears. After the flowers fade, small fruits develop in their place, measuring less than half an inch across.

These fruits are a yellow-green color and are enormously popular with birds once they have softened later in the year. The seeds of the fruit get dispersed in bird droppings, and in part due to this, the Bradford pear tree has become invasive in many parts of the United States.

It is tolerant of all soil types and grows easily and is, therefore, outperforming many native plants and trees. In spite of this, this tree is still commonly cultivated for its ornamental beauty and has a life expectancy of around 20 years, after that time the tree becomes prone to breakage, and the limbs of the tree can quite suddenly snap off. This tree enjoys moist soil when young, but is drought-tolerant once established. It will grow in almost any soil type, even clay soils.

European Pears

This pear tree is native to Europe and Southwest Asia, but some cultivars are now widely grown in North America and Australia. As a species that requires winter chilling to set buds, these are great trees for cooler climates, though they are not quite as hardy as apple trees. The fruits of these trees are edible, and have various uses such as fresh fruit, in cooking, and as canned fruit. Many of these cultivars travel well and have long lives when properly stored. Some of the most popularly cultivated varieties are the Conference pear, which is the most commonly cultivated pear in the UK for commercial use, and the Abate Fetel pear, which is the most popular cultivar in Italy.

Cultivars of European Pears

2. Bosc Pear

Scientific Name: Pyrus communis ‘Bosc’

Mature Size: Up to 20 feet tall

USDA Hardiness Zone: 5-9

Light: Full sun

Water: Maintain moist soil

Soil: Well-draining, fertile

Flower Color: White

This deciduous pear tree has an upright habit that spreads horizontally once established, giving it a wide, umbrella-shaped canopy. It produces elliptical leaves in a glossy green, which develop to red and yellow late in the fall. Flowers bloom in the middle of spring, in a creamy white color. They appear on densely packed clusters that drape from the tree along the lengths of the branches. Flowers give way to edible fruits, with medium-sized pears that have fuzzy, cinnamon-colored skin. They have long necks and are cultivated for many uses. The soft flesh of the pears are sweet and juicy and are delicious to enjoy as a raw snack.

These pears also work very well in cooking and are commonly used to create pies and other desserts, or they can be canned to save for a later date. They have a long shelf life and can be kept for up to three months in storage, retaining their appealing flavor.

In order to produce fruits, this tree will need to be pollinated by another species that flowers during the same timeframe, as it is not self-fertilizing. Good options for this are ‘Anjou’ or ‘Bartlett,’ which should be grown in close proximity to the tree to ensure maximum fertilization. This type of pear tree grows easily in a full sun position in fertile soil. It prefers a sheltered position and a moderate amount of moisture.

3. Harrow Sweet Pear

Credit to anneheathen

Scientific Name: Pyrus communis ‘Harrow Sweet’

Mature Size: Up to 20 feet tall

USDA Hardiness Zone: 4-8

Light: Full sun

Water: Average water needs

Soil: Well-draining, deep, fertile

Flower Color: White

Other Cultivars and Varieties: ‘Conference’, ‘Merton Pride’, ‘Red Bartlett’, ‘Blake’s Pride’

This type of pear tree is deciduous and has an upright habit with a wide spread. Its branches reach outwards so that the eventual width of the tree will be about equal to its height, at a maximum of 20 feet in either direction. This tree can also be grown as a dwarf pear tree; in that case, it is more likely to reach between 10 and 15 feet tall. The tree blooms in early to mid-spring, with creamy white flowers held in abundant clusters all along the lengths of the branches. The clusters dangle gracefully, making for a dramatic floral display.

The leaves arrive on the tree at around the same time as the flowers, in a deep and glossy green shade. By fall, the leaves warm up to bright hues of orange, red, and gold, before dropping to the ground. The flowers of this plant are highly ornamental, and once they have faded, they give way to large yellow-green fruits.

These pears are flushed with red on their skin and have white, crisp, and juicy flesh. They are delicious eaten straight from the tree or cooked. They are also good for canning. One of the reasons this variety of pear tree is so popular is the high yield of pears it produces. It is renowned for being a very productive pear tree, producing an abundant crop year on year. If you want to grow this tree to produce pears, you will also need to grow another pear tree close by, as the Harrow Sweet Pear is not self-fertile. Choose a pear tree that flowers during the same time frame to give your trees the best chance of fertilization, such as the ‘Moonglow’ pear tree.

This tree grows easily in a full sun position with a moderate amount of water. It prefers well-draining soil that is fertile and deep.

Asian Pears

Asian pear trees are native to Eastern Asia. They produce sweet fruits that go by many names, including Asian pears, Japanese pears, zodiac pears, and apple pears. The term ‘apple pear’ is probably due to the fact that these pears more closely resemble the look of apples due to their round shape. The fruits are very sweet, and so are usually enjoyed as a dessert pear, though they are typically not cooked or baked because of their high water content. Instead, they are most commonly eaten raw, where their crisp and juicy flesh can be fully enjoyed. These types of pears are very different from the pear you would find on European pear trees, and they have an almost caramel-like flavor.

Asian pears can be categorized into two groups; russet pears and green pears. They can easily be identified by the color of their skin, with russet pears having tan-colored skin and green pears a yellow-green shade of rind. Asian pears have a good shelf life so long as they are properly wrapped and stored carefully. They have a tendency to bruise easily due to their high juice content, which spoils the fruit. Different cultivars of Asian pear trees can be found throughout East Asia, as well as other regions of the world, including Australia and the United States. These pears are quite expensive to buy, and so are not commonly enjoyed fruit for most people. Instead, they are often given as gifts or enjoyed on special occasions. They are usually served peeled in their raw form.

Asian pear trees are deciduous and can vary in height though they are typically quite small, at an average height of around 15 feet. They love the sun, though they aren’t heat-tolerant and fare best in moderately warm to cool climates. These trees are easy to grow, thriving in well-draining soil. They do have a habit of falling victim to various diseases such as fireblight, pear rust, and brown rot, as well as suffering from numerous pests. Due to this, they need to be watched closely and can become quite high maintenance. They will benefit from annual pruning to ensure the best crop yield the following year.

Cultivars of Asian Pears

4. Chojuro Pear

Credit to Glysiak

Scientific Name: Pyrus pyrifolia ‘Chojuro’

Mature Size: Up to 10 feet tall

USDA Hardiness Zone: 5-8

Light: Full sun

Water: Average moisture needs

Soil: Well-draining, deep, fertile

Flower Color: White

Other Cultivars and Varieties: ‘Hosui’, ‘Shinseiki’, ‘Raja’, ‘Shinko’

This popular pear tree produces dessert pears, on a deciduous, small tree. In spring, leaves emerge in an interesting copper shade, along with blossoms that bloom in mid-spring. As they develop, the leaves become a bright and fresh shade of green, before turning bright red in the fall. The ruffled flowers are white and bloom in heavy clusters that hang along the branches of the tree. Medium to large-sized fruits follow the flowers, which are round in shape, and golden-tan colored. They have a distinctive caramel sweet flavor, which is reminiscent of butterscotch and lends them perfectly for use in desserts and sweet dishes. The flesh of the fruit is a creamy white, very juicy, and has a crisp bite. These pears keep very well and can be stored for up to five months after harvesting.

The tree is known for producing a good crop yield, but it will need to be pollinated by at least two other types of pear trees in order to form fruits. Choose pear trees that flower at the same time as the Chojuro, such as ‘Hosui’ and ‘Moonglow.’

This tree is easy to grow, in a full sun position, with well-draining soil.