Other Names:  Common Pear

Description:

An old favorite from England that produces loads of small rusty reddish-blushed green pears that are commonly used to make perry, a pear liquor; forms a smallish, wide-spreading tree, covered in showy white flowers in spring

Edible Qualities

Brandy Pear is a small tree that is commonly grown for its edible qualities. It produces small brick red oblong pears (which are botanically known as 'pomes') with brown overtones and white flesh which are usually ready for picking in mid fall. The pears have a tart taste and a firm texture.

The pears are most often used in the following ways:

• Wine-Making

Features & Attributes

Brandy Pear is bathed in stunning clusters of white flowers with purple anthers along the branches in early spring. It has dark green deciduous foliage. The glossy pointy leaves turn an outstanding deep purple in the fall. The fruits are showy brick red pears with brown overtones, which are carried in abundance in mid fall. 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, Brandy Pear is sutiable for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Orchard/Edible Landscaping

Planting & Growing

Brandy Pear will grow to be about 15 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 15 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 3 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.