Fireblight is the limiting factor for Pears in the South. Once fireblight attacks a non-resistant variety, it quickly spreads throughout the tree, blackening and killing to the roots. Fortunately there is a variety of pear that is fireblight resistant. These are the Oriental pears. Oriental pears differ from European pears, like Bartlett and Seckel, in that they remain firm and crispy after you pick them. Some people dislike this, so much effort has been put into breeding varieties that are soft. By breeding the Oriental with the European, several varieties of super soft, blight-resistant pears are now available.

Please note that pear pollinators need to be matched by bloom season. Even self-fertile (or semi-self fertile) pears fruit better with a best friend!

Soft Pear Varieties (Pyrus communis)

BALDWIN A long ripening, dual purpose variety. Its large yellow fruit has a slight red blush, and makes both a fine eating and excellent cooking pear. Ripening over most of the month of August makes this and GOLDEN BOY the best varieties for people who want one soft pear tree. Pollinate with HOOD, FLORDAHOME, COURTHOUSE, PINEAPPLE or LE CONTE. Zones 8-9. $27.99 3 gal (4-5ft).

COURTHOUSE A Just Fruits find! We discovered this pear growing behind the Wakulla County Courthouse. Having grown up in Wakulla, I've long admired this tree for its ability to thrive under absolute street-side adversity and still produce heavy crops yearly. The fruit is fantastic. Beautiful, thin, red-blushed soft pears are sweet and juicy. Ripens mid-August. Pollinate with HOOD, FLORDAHOME, BALDWIN, PINEAPPLE or LE CONTE. Zones 8A-9. $29.99 3 gal (4-5ft).

FLORDAHOME Sweet, smooth-textured, juicy and flavorful. Ripens late July. Early blooming and requiring less than 400 chill hours. Partly self-fruitful, but great planted with Hood in Central Florida. Pollinate with HOOD, BALDWIN, COURTHOUSE, PINEAPPLE or LE CONTE. Zones 8B-9. $27.99 3 gal (4-5ft).

GOLDEN BOY We discovered this pear at an old homesite in Wakulla County. Its disease resistance, perfect pear shape, and supersweet flavor enticed us to propagate it. We believe it is well worth trying. Ripens early-mid August. Pollinate with ORIENT, KEIFFER, SUG, TENNS or CARNES. Zones 8A-9. $29.99 3 gal (4-5ft).

HOOD Strong grower that bears large golden-yellow fruit. Juicy, buttery-soft flesh is excellent for fresh eating. Ripens late July. Pollinate with COURTHOUSE, FLORDAHOME, BALDWIN, PINEAPPLE or LE CONTE. Zones 8-10. $27.99 3 gal (4-5ft).

LECONTE An old North Carolina variety with a beautiful bell shape and pink-blushed golden color, LeConte has a crisp texture like an Asian pear. Ready to eat when picked (mid- to late August), it can be stored for several months. LeConte is an extremely productive tree with good resistance to fire blight. This pear is referred to in a book printed in 1886 (Florida Fruits and How to Raise Them, by Helen Warner) as being a “fine-flavored, juicy aromatic fruit.” Incidentally, it was bringing in $5-6 per bushel in Liberty County, Georgia at that time! Pollinate with Courthouse, Hood, Golden Boy, Pineapple (early bloomers). $27.99 3gal(4-5ft).

SUG Another Just Fruits find! This one we named Sug because of the rich, sweet, running-down-your-chin juicy pear that it is! Beautiful thin-necked fruit. Ripens in August. Pollinate with ORIENT, KEIFFER, GOLDEN BOY, TENNS or CARNES. Zones 8A-9. $29.99 3 gal (4-5ft).

TENNS Last pear to ripen. Thin necked, red-blished pear is super sweet. Ripens in September. Pollinate with ORIENT, KEIFFER, GOLDEN BOY or CARNES. Zones 8A-9. $27.99 3 gal (4-5ft).

Hard Pear Varieties (Pyrus communis)

CARNES Called the apple pear. Carnes is sweet and crunchy, completely free of grit cells, making it the best hard pear for fresh eating. Ripens July-August. Pollinate with ORIENT, KEIFFER, SUG or GOLDEN BOY. Zones 8-10. $27.99 3 gal (4-5ft).

KEIFFER Hard cooking pear with great disease resistance. One of the oldest and toughest varieities. Great for pear preserves and pear honey. Ripens July-August. Pollinate with ORIENT, CARNES, SUG or GOLDEN BOY. Zones 8A-9B. $27.99 3 gal (4-5ft).

ORIENT High blight resistence in a great canning and cooking pear. Tough as nails. Ripens July-August. Pollinate with GOLDEN BOY, KEIFFER, SUG or CARNES. Zones 8A-8B. $27.99 3 gal (4-5ft).

PINEAPPLE This is the old-fashioned pear your Grandmother raised. Tough, hardy and hard to kill. Produces bushels of hard cooking pears. Ripens July-August. Pollinate with COURTHOUSE, FLORDAHOME, BALDWIN, HOOD or LE CONTE. Zones 8-10. $27.99 3 gal (4-5ft).

ASIAN PEAR VARIETIES (Pyrus pyrifolia)

America is just discovering this exotic new fruit. Unlike soft Pears, the Asians remain firm and are crisp and juicy when eaten ripe. The flavor is more subtle with hints of pineapple and sweet apple. Definitely worth growing!

CHOJURO This beautiful golden pear is consistently ranked as one of the best flavored Asian pears. Has the crisp texture of a good apple, and a marvelous pear flavor sometimes described as like butterscotch. Ripening mid-August to mid-September, they keep well in storage for a very long time (reportedly up to six months). Tree is semi-self-fertile, but as with all Asian pears, yield is increased if another variety is planted nearby. 450-550 chill hours. Zones 5-9A. $29.99 3gal(4-5ft).

HOSUI A medium-large, golden, russett-skinned fruit. The taste is crisp like an apple and very juicy and sweet. Keeps well. Ripens August. Pollinate with SHINKO, SHINEIKI, CHOJURO or 20TH CENTURY. Zones 5-9A. $29.99 3 gal (4-5ft).

SHINKO Bronze-skinned fruit. Crisp and sweet. Ripens early October. Pollinate with HOSUI, SHINEIKI, CHOJURO or 20TH CENTURY. Zones 5-9A. $29.99 3 gal (4-5ft).

SHINSEKI Beautiful medium-large, yellow pear with sweet mild and juicy flesh. Ripens July. Partially self-fertile but bears better with a pollinator (SHINKO or CHOJURO). 300-450 chill hours. Zones 5-9A. $29.99 3 gal (4-5ft).

TSU LI Large vigorous trees. Reliable bearer in low chill areas. Light yellowish-green skinned fruit has a more European shape than most, with a thick neck. The oyster white flesh is firm and juicy. It has a distinct aroma and is sweet, with a slight trace of tartness. Rated as one of the top varieties in respect to flavor and juiciness. Pollinate with YA LI. Ripens early September. Zones 5-9A. $29.99 3 gal (4-5ft).

YA LI A large, bell-shaped pear with a greenish-yellow skin. Tender white flesh with a sweet-tart flavor. Vigorous, upright grower. Pollinate with TSU LI. Ripens late August to mid Sept. Zones 5-9A. $29.99 3 gal (4-5ft).

20TH CENTURY A large round yellow fruit that ripens in August and stores well. Most popular Japanese cultivar that is semi-self fertile. Pollinate with HOSUI, SHINEIKI, CHOJURO or SHINKO for better fruit set. Zones 5-9A. $29.99 3 gal (4-5ft).

FLOWERING PEAR VARIETIES

These non-fruiting beauties are landscaper's dreams. Great spring bloom. Summer foliage on an elegant tree and then the fall color just blows you away.

CLEVELAND SELECT FLOWERING PEAR Tough and beautiful selected variety of a Bradford-type pear. This one is a winner for an elegant focal point or as a specimen tree. Need a dramatic entrance? Line your pathway with these for maximum impact. Zones 5-8. $27.99 3 gal (4-5ft).

Just the Facts
Not sure what to do with pears or how to grow them right? DON'T PANIC! Push the panic button and we will give you "Just the Facts" you need to successfully grow them.

Are we out of what you are looking for? Email us at Justfruits@hotmail.com and we'll put you on the "Call When Available" list. We will call you!

Please come to see us if you can (Wednesday to Sunday, 9:05-5:08). We are located 19 miles south of Tallahassee, just off US Highway 98, 1 mile east of the intersection with US Highway 319 (South of Crawfordville center and actually in the village of Medart). If you need further directions, feel free to call us at 1-850-926-5644 or enter 30 St. Frances St. Crawforville FL 32327 (or Just Fruits Nursery) into Google Maps ( CLICK HERE).