Pears

Pyrus ussuriensis, also known as the Ussurian pear, Harbin pear, and Manchurian pear, is a species of flowering plant in the family Rosaceae. It is native to Korea, Japan, and the Ussuri River area of far eastern Russia. It has flowers in spring that are slightly pink when budding and then turn white. Buds are dark brown and have an alternating arrangement. The tree grows to a height of about 15 meters (49 ft) and prefers well-drained loam-type soils. It is considered the hardiest of all pears. When planted in milder climates, the trees have been known to be killed by freezes after they begin budding. Many species of birds and mammals feed upon the fruit of this species. Deer, mice, and rabbits are known to damage the trees. Leaves are dark green in spring and summer and turn dark red and gold in autumn. Products made from the fruits may prove more effective than commercial insecticides in killing ticks and mites. The fruits are not the tastiest of pears to humans, but the taste is better after a freeze and the juice tastes better. Crosses of this species with other pears produces tasty pears that grow in climates too cold for most pears. Cultivars include the 'Reli', 'Jinxiang', 'Hongbalixiang', 'Baibalixiang', 'Fuwuxiang', 'Qiuxiang', 'Fuanjianba', 'Longxiang', 'Guanhongxiao', 'Shanli24', 'Wuxiangli', 'Shatangli', 'Manyuanxiang', 'McDermand' , and the Prairie Gem® Flowering Pear (cultivar ‘MorDak’). There are at least 108 compounds in the fruits that affect plant breeding and these show that P. ussuriensis cultivars fall into 4 groups.

Pyrus syriaca is a deciduous tree in the Rosaceae family. It is referred to by the common name Syrian pear. It is the only pear species which grows in the wild in Lebanon Turkey Syria and Israel. The Syrian pear is a protected plant in Israel. It grows in unsalted ground usually in Mediterranean scrub in west Syria in the Galilee and the Golan. In spring the tree blossoms with white flowers. The fruit ripen in fall. The fruit is edible though not as good as the European Pear mostly because of hard stone like objects found in the skin. The ripe fruit falls to the ground and when it starts to rot the smell attracts wild boars. The boars eat the fruit and distribute the seeds.

Common pear 'Red Sensation Bartlett' is a hybrid of the widespread Bartlett Pear (Pyrus communis 'Bartlett') that bears a strikingly dark purple-red fruit, for which it is named. This tree has glossy green leaves from spring onwards, produces attractive white flowers in spring, and a crop of well-flavored pears in the fall.

Pyrus cordata is a deciduous shrub or small tree growing up to 10 metres in height. It is hardy and is not frost tender but its ability to bear fruit and thus seed is dependent upon favourable weather conditions. It is in flower in spring. The flowers are hermaphrodite and are pollinated by Insects. The trees have pale cream blossom with some pink.

Common pear 'Bartlett' is an enormously popular cultivar of pear tree, loved for its delicious and plentiful fruit. It is a very reliable and commercially viable cultivar. In some parts of the world, like the UK, it is known as a Williams pear.

The common pear is a tree whose fruit is widely popular and grown all over the world. One way this fruit is unique is that it contains hard particles (called stone cells) within in its flesh that provides a gritty feel when eating. Common pear, when properly cared for, can have a life span of 50-75 years.

A deciduous tree about 15 meters high. The leaves are oval with a length of about 12 cm and there are hook-shaped saw blades on the edges. The flowering season is around spring and the flower is made up of five white petals as the leaves unfold. From summer to fall a tan or yellow-green sphere-like fruit with a diameter of 10-18 centimeters that resembles an apple becomes edible. The flesh is white sweet and full of juice. Wild ones (Yamanashi) are about 2 to 3 centimeters in diameter and the flesh is hard and sour.

Pyrus pyraster is a deciduous plant reaching 3–4 metres in height as medium-sized shrub and 15–20 metres as a tree. Unlike the cultivated form the branches have thorns. The leaves are ovate with serrated margins. The flowers have white petals. The stamens are equal to the length of styles. The flowering period in spring.

The common pear 'Comice' (Pyrus communis 'Comice') is a dwarf cultivar of common pear (Pyrus communis) in terms of height, but produces fruit of the same size. These trees can also be found at normal pear-tree height as well. In French, the fruits are typically known as 'Doyenné du Comice.' The sweet fruit pairs well with French cheeses, such as Brie and Camembert.

Common pear 'Orient' is a highly popular cultivar of pear tree. This cultivar produces fragrant white and yellow flowers, followed by large, sweet and versatile fruits. They are a very reliable heavy-cropping variety of pear, which will also attract pollinators and birds to the garden.

Common pear 'Red Clapp's Favorite' is a natural mutation of 'Clapp's Favorite' that was discovered on a farm in Missouri during the 1950's. One branch produced fruit notably redder in color than the rest of the parent tree, and so it was taken for propagation. This tree doesn't fertilize naturally, and requires pollination from a similar variety.

Callery pear 'Chanticleer' (Pyrus calleryana 'Chanticleer') is a very popular cultivar of Callery pear (Pyrus calleryana) and is often referred to as ‘Cleveland Select,’ ‘Select,’ ‘Stone Hill,’ and ‘Glen’s Form’ as well. 'Chanticleer' is the name of a rooster character in some classic poems and fairy tales. The tree's pyramidal and narrow shape make it a favorite ornamental tree for tight landscaping areas. Callery pear 'Chanticleer' does produce fruits, but they are inedible.

Callery pear 'Bradford' is named for Frederick Charles Bradford, who, in the 1950s, developed this callery pear cultivar at the USDA’s Maryland plant station. In spring the tree produces a profusion of brilliant white flowers, and then in fall, the leaves turn from dark green to brilliant shades of red and brown.

Willow-leaved pear is a charmingly rounded tree that can grow to be 12 meters high and is regularly chosen to adorn public parks and gardens, in part due to the fact that it grows well in sandy soils. The glowingly white flowers are a true eye-catcher.

Willow-leaved pear 'Pendula' is so-named because of its pronounced drooping or weeping branch structure with leaves that look like a pendulum ("Pendula"). This hybrid received the Royal Horticultural Society's Order of Garden Merit and is a popular ornamental tree both for its silvery-green leaves and its cream-colored flowers, particularly abundant in this hybrid, which blooms in spring.

Almond-leaved pear is a cold-hardy deciduous tree. This wild pear tree is often used as a rootstock for cultivated pear trees. This tree will tolerate growing in part shade, however, this will stunt its ability to fruit.

The bradford pear is native to China but is considered invasive in the U.S. and Australia. Although it does not self-pollinate, it can become invasive by hybridizing with other plants to create fertile fruits that may seed in natural areas. The bradford pear creates large populations of fruits that are spread by birds and animals, readily rooting in disturbed areas. It also forms thick colonies that may compete with other native species for natural resources. Alternative plants include the Trident Maple and the Serviceberry. The bradford pear can be controlled by manually pulling young plants, and a range of herbicides such as oil-based herbicides, foliar herbicides, and both basal bark and stump treatments. It is important to remove seed sources as the weed can reinvade areas where it has been previously removed.

Pyrus pyraster is a deciduous plant reaching 3–4 metres in height as medium-sized shrub and 15–20 metres as a tree. Unlike the cultivated form the branches have thorns. The leaves are ovate with serrated margins. The flowers have white petals. The stamens are equal to the length of styles. The flowering period in spring.

Pyrus pyraster is a deciduous plant reaching 3–4 metres in height as medium-sized shrub and 15–20 metres as a tree. Unlike the cultivated form the branches have thorns. The leaves are ovate with serrated margins. The flowers have white petals. The stamens are equal to the length of styles. The flowering period in spring.