Lakeshore Garden Centres Plant Finder

Other Names:  Common Pear

Description:

A medium sized tree which produces small, bell shaped, chartreuse pears with red blush and freckles; white flesh is sweet, moist and crisp; showy white flowers in spring are very ornamental; needs a pollinator, fallen fruit can be messy

Edible Qualities

Forelle Pear is a small tree that is commonly grown for its edible qualities. It produces small chartreuse oblong pears (which are botanically known as 'pomes') with red spots and white flesh which are usually ready for picking from mid to late summer. The fruit will often fade to gold over time. The pears have a sweet taste and a juicy texture.

The pears are most often used in the following ways:

• Fresh Eating
• Cooking
• Baking
• Juice-Making
• Canning

Features & Attributes

Forelle Pear is bathed in stunning clusters of white flowers along the branches in early spring. It has forest green deciduous foliage. The glossy pointy leaves turn an outstanding deep purple in the fall. The fruits are showy chartreuse pears with red spots and which fade to gold over time, which are carried in abundance from mid to late summer. The fruit can be messy if allowed to drop on the lawn or walkways, and may require occasional clean-up.

This is a dense deciduous tree with a more or less rounded form. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition. This is a high maintenance plant that will require regular care and upkeep, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Messy
• Disease

Aside from its primary use as an edible, Forelle Pear is sutiable for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Shade
• Orchard/Edible Landscaping

Planting & Growing

Forelle Pear will grow to be about 18 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 18 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 2 feet from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 50 years or more. This variety requires a different selection of the same species growing nearby in order to set fruit.

This tree is typically grown in a designated area of the yard because of its mature size and spread. It should only be grown in full sunlight. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.

This plant is not reliably hardy in our region, and certain restrictions may apply; contact the store for more information.