Growing Pear Trees: Tips at a Glance
- Type Fruit tree
- Oldest on Record 350+ years
- USDA Zones 2-8
- Light Full sun
- Crown Round or weeping
- Location Pollinate with a pair
- Design Tip Easy to espalier
- Other Uses Ornamental
- Peak Season Flowers in spring
Pear Trees: A Field Guide
Introduced to North America in the 16th century, the common pear tree can live for centuries (and produce more than a hundred bushel baskets of fruit per year).
Pear trees come by their gnarled branches honestly. They date to prehistoric times, with dozens of species (some ornamental and others bearing edible fruit) hailing from Asia, Europe, and beyond. (The ancient Romans ate pears both raw and cooked in honey, a precursor to our own favorite Oven-Canned Cardamom Pears.)