If you like to grow your own fruit, you should consider planting a pear trees!
While you might commonly hear that there are three pear tree varieties (Asian, European, and Hybrid). However, there are actually over 800 different pear tree species in the world.
We don’t have time to talk about each of these today, so we’ve selected 30 of the most popular species.
Whether you like to eat fresh pairs straight from the tree or use them for your culinary creations, you’re bound to find the perfect pear tree on our list!
Seckel (Pyrus Communis ‘Seckel’)
Experts think that the Seckel pear tree originates from Pennsylvania.
This hybrid pear tree produces sugar pears (also known as dessert pears), known for their juiciness and vanilla flavor that makes them delicious straight from the tree!
Sunrise (Pyrus Communis ‘Sunrise’)
The Sunrise pear variety is famous for its colorful fruit, growing robust yellow pears with a peachy blush.
These pears are delectably juicy and highly aromatic as well as sweet, so they’re tasty when eaten raw as well as cooked.
Kieffer (Pyrus Communis ‘Kieffer’)
Kieffer pear trees are native to Philadelphia and this particular variety dates back to the 1870s.
If you’re looking for a pear tree that will bear fruit during the fall and winter seasons, Kieffer is a great choice, and the pears are very versatile in that they can be consumed raw, baked, or poached.
Packham’s Triumph (Pyrus Communis ‘Packham’s Triumph’)
Another excellent pear tree for fall and winter harvesting is Packham’s Triumph.
It originates from 19th-century Australia. Packham’s Triumph is known for producing large quantities of medium-sized pears that are disease-resistant and delicious to eat fresh.
Onward (Pyrus Communis ‘Onward’)
The Onward pear tree produces some of the most beautiful pears of the Pyrus communis species: yellow in color with an orange and russet blush.
First recorded in 1947, Onward is easy to grow and delivers sweet fruit that is pleasant to eat raw.
Beurré Hardy (Pyrus Communis ‘Beurre Hardy’)
Beurré Hardy is one of the most well-known pear tree varieties due to the incredible flavor and aroma of its fruit.
Beurré Hardy is a French pear tree that dates back to the 19th century, and the pears from this tree are primarily considered dessert pears for their sweetness.
Catillac (Pyrus Communis ‘Catillac’)
Catillac – not to be confused with Cadillac – is a type of pear tree that is usually grown with the aim of producing culinary pears.
Catillac pears have a slightly gritty texture that makes the raw fruit off-putting, but they are delicious when cooked.
Williams Bon Chretien (Pyrus Communis ‘Williams’)
Williams Bon Chretien is an English dessert pear variety with a name that translates to ‘Williams Good Christian’.
The great thing about Williams Bon Chretien is that it is a high-yielding pear tree, so it’s perfect if you need baskets full of sweet pears for baking or cooking.
Concorde (Pyrus Communis ‘Concorde’)
The Concorde pear tree is another highly popular variety that has won awards for the quality of its fruit.
Concorde pear trees are a cross between the famous Conference and Comice (see below) varieties and since it’s self-fertile, it’s easy to grow.
Summercrisp (Pyrus Communis ‘Summercrisp’)
If you have a small garden and are looking for a pear tree that won’t overcrowd the space, Summercrisp will be one of your best options.
This is a small pear tree that produces appealing, rose-blushed pears in August.
Humbug (Pyrus Communis ‘Humbug’)
One of the most visually enticing pear trees is the Humbug pear tree.
This tree yields yellow and green pears with distinct pink stripes and thick skin that helps to protect the fruit from disease and infestation.
Petite Poire (Pyrus Communis ‘Petite Poire’)
Petite Poire is known as a Dwarf pear tree because of its small size. If you don’t have a lot of outdoor space to work with, don’t worry – you can grow this tree in a pot on your driveway.
The pears are juicy and sweet, and since they’re small, they make great snacks.
Red Williams (Pyrus Communis ‘Red Williams’)
Red Williams is so named because of the color of the pears it produces, which distinguish it from its close relative, Williams Bon Chretien.
The bright red pears of this tree are actually the most popular variety for canning because of their unique texture.
Bosc (Pyrus Communis ‘Bosc’)
Bosc pear trees have been around for a long time, since the early decades of the 1800s.
This pear tree hasn’t become any less popular in that time, however, growing up to 15 feet (4.57 m) tall and producing sweet pears of varying levels of firmness.
Invincible (Pyrus Communis ‘Invincible’)
The Invincible pear tree is named for a very good reason: it’s a highly frost-resistant tree that is incredibly reliable when it comes to growing tasty pears!
The pears of this French tree are typically juicy and have a slight taste and aroma of violet.
Kumoi (Pyrus Communis ‘Kumoi’)
A Kumoi pear tree (or Nashi pear) is an Asian pear tree known for producing distinctly round pears that somewhat resemble russet apples.
Beneath their golden-brown skin, the pears have white flesh and are sweet enough to be served as dessert pears.
Gorham (Pyrus Communis ‘Gorham’)
The Gorham pear tree is an interesting variety because despite having a 100% European ancestry, this is actually an American pear.
The tree bears yellow pears that vary in color from gold to pale russet.
Louise Bonne of Jersey (Pyrus Communis ‘Louise Bonne of Jersey’)
As you might be able to guess from its name, Louise Bonne of Jersey is a French pear tree.
This is a noticeable tree due to the fact that its reliable, high-quality fruit is bi-colored: primarily green but with a red blush.
Hood (Pyrus Communis ‘Hood’)
Pyrus communis ‘Hood’, also known as the Hood pear, grows yellow-green pears that are resistant to many ailments, including fire blight.
Unlike some other pear trees, it doesn’t need many chill hours, although it can succumb to leaf spot.
Doyenné Du Comice (Pyrus Communis ‘Doyenné Du Comice)
Doyenne du Comice, otherwise simply known as Comice, is one of the world’s most famous pear trees.
It produces dessert pears, which are of high quality in terms of taste even if they do look a little unassuming at first glance.
Baldwin (Pyrus Communis ‘Baldwin’)
Baldwin pear trees grow sweet pears with a semi-firm texture, which is why many produce companies seek them out for canning.
You can pick Baldwin pears between August and September and either snack on them raw or use them for cooking.
Pitmaston Duchesse (Pyrus Communis ‘Pitmaston Duchesse’)
The Pitmaston Duchesse pear has an impressive name and even more impressive-tasting fruit!
Pitmaston Duchesse trees date back to 1814 and are known for their conical, exceptionally juicy pears.
Conference (Pyrus Communis ‘Conference’)
If you’re looking for delicious dessert pears in early fall, you should plant a Conference pear tree!
This is one of the world’s most well-known pear trees because of the high quality of the pears, but make sure to wait until just before they are completely ripe to eat them for the best flavor.
Pineapple (Pyrus Communis ‘Pineapple’)
We would highly recommend investing in a Pineapple pear tree if you often find yourself craving pears during the summer.
Pineapple pears are russet-colored and highly resistant to disease, but the best thing about them is their slight pineapple flavor!
Merton Pride (Pyrus Communis ‘Merton Pride’)
Merton Pride is a triploid pear tree, which means that it needs to be paired with another tree in order to pollinate.
This means that Merton Pride is probably not a variety for new growers, but if you have some experience growing pear trees, the fruit is well worth the extra effort!
Anjou (Pyrus Communis ‘Anjou’)
The Anjou pear tree originates from France and is a vigorous tree that can be relied upon to produce fruit consistently. This is a semi-dwarf pear tree, growing only up to 18 feet (5.49 m), and while this means that fewer fruit may be produced at a time, harvesting is much easier.
Beth (Pyrus Communis ‘Beth’)
Beth pear trees produce small, compact pears that can be eaten raw, although they are used in various sophisticated and popular desserts. These pears are ready for harvesting in September and October.
Winter Nelis (Pyrus Communis ‘Winter Nelis’)
Winter Nelis is the perfect pear tree if you like to enjoy warm pear-based desserts during the colder months. These dessert pears are small but high-quality.
Sensation (Pyrus Communis ‘Sensation’)
The Sensation pear is related to Williams Bon Chretien, but like Red Williams, it produces pears in vibrant red color.
Not only are these pears visually appealing, but they’re also extremely sweet and juicy.
Luscious (Pyrus Communis ‘Luscious’)
Finally, we have the Luscious pear, which was first grown in 1954 and has since become a very popular variety for home-growers. The pears are yellow with a gentle red blush.
Final Thoughts
Thank you for reading!
We hope that our list of 30 varieties of pear trees has been informative, and maybe even helped you to choose your newest gardening project!
Remember to check whether a pear tree produces fruit suitable for eating raw or not before you get planting.
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The majority of people who have no interest in the subject, and aren’t green fingered assume that all plants and vegetables require the same growing conditions. This is not the case at all. Each plant has its own unique and interesting history and growing process.
I hope you will find The Natural List useful, and that it will help educate you on the wide variety of different flower and plant species there are across the globe.
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