There is a large selection of pear varieties - we have listed the best pear varieties for your garden in an overview with pictures for you.
Unfortunately, many only know the pear from the supermarket. There, the popular native fruit is often marketed as table pears. In order to find the name of the variety, the customer has to take a closer look at the label. So that more pear trees can be planted in your own garden again, you will find a detailed list with descriptions and pictures of the best pear varieties here.
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- Pear Varieties: Tried and tested varieties
- Preserve old pear varieties
- The best varieties of pears (list)
Pear Varieties: Tried and tested varieties
While the varieties Williams Christ (1770) and Conference (1894) come from England, the Good Louise (1778) and Abate Fetel (originally named after their discoverer Abbé Fétel in 1866) originated in France. These varieties have managed to gain a permanent place on fruit shelves to this day. The fact that some of these varieties are well over 200 years old is not surprising when you take a closer look at the cultural history of the pear. In addition to various types of wild pears, the table pear, also known as the cultivated pear, has its origins in Asia. From there, the cultivated pear spread across the Balkans to Greece, where it was deliberately bred and propagated more than 3,000 years ago. Especially in the 18th and 19 In the 19th century, the pear really blossomed. European breeders, mainly from Belgium, England and France, crossed, selected and propagated all kinds of pear varieties. Many of these varieties quickly spread to Central Europe through traders and businessmen.
Preserve old pear varieties
Unfortunately, many of the previously widespread varieties are now only found in a few places. The old regional varieties, some of which have proven themselves for centuries in the respective climatic conditions, are particularly at risk. With these varieties, not only does part of the natural heritage or the natural gene pool disappear, but also part of the quality of life and lifestyle.
However, you can sometimes still find them, especially on old meadow orchards: the good old pear varieties. Often grafted onto growing stocks, these high-stem pears provide shelter for all kinds of creatures such as colored and green woodpeckers, tawny owls or also dormouse. Fortunately, some specialists have taken on the propagation of old and special pear varieties and also offer standard varieties. For this reason, we at Plantura would also like to do our part to ensure that at least some of these pear varieties remain in people's minds and gardens.
Below is the list of new, hardy and old pear varieties.
The best varieties of pears (list)
Abate Fetel: Found in France around 1866; large, long fruits; yellow-green skin with slight russeting; Ready for picking from the end of September, ready for consumption October to November; juicy-sweet, semi-melting pulp; Pollinators: all good pollen donors.
Alexander Lucas: This variety was bred in France in 1870; is highly valued in both intensive and amateur cultivation; medium-sized, cup-bellied fruits; smooth, greenish-yellow skin, later turning bright yellow and slightly red or rusty spots; ripening from the end of September; can be kept in cold storage for up to 6 months; juicy pulp with a pleasant mild-sweet taste; resistant to pests, but sensitive to wind and scab; pollinator: Conference, Good Louise, Bosc's bottle pear, Williams Christmas pear, Madame Verte.
Bavarian wine pear (also: Badische Mostbirne): First mentioned in 1906; very large, bottle-shaped fruits; whitish-green skin with an attractive orange-red sunny side; maturity in October; can be stored for about 6 months; juicy pulp with a sweet and tart aroma; little susceptible to diseases, resistant to fire blight, hardy; good orchard variety.
Blumenbach's Butter Pear (also: Soldier Laboureur, Auguste van Mons Soldier): Bred in 1820; belongs to the endangered pear varieties; medium-sized, pear-shaped fruits; whitish-green skin, later whitish-yellow and net-like russets, often more drawn in on one side on steep slopes; ripening from the end of October; early and rich yield; fine, melting pulp with a refreshing, melon-like aroma.
blood pear: Very rare variety; medium-sized fruits; green to red washed, striped skin; ripe for picking from September, ripe for consumption until October; Showy, rose-red flesh with white veins; popular as: juice; Pollinators: all good pollen donors.
Boscs's bottle pear (also: Kaiser Alexander, Kaiserkrone, Alexanderbirne): Was found in France in 1780 and came to Germany in 1810; medium-sized, bottle-shaped fruits with a thick belly; yellowish-green, cloudy skin, yellowish-brown color when fully ripe and brownish russeting; Autumn pear: Ripens from the end of October; hard picked long shelf life; Very juicy flesh, sweet in taste with a noble spice; not susceptible to scab, slightly sensitive to copper and sulfur; good pollen donor; pollinator: Conference, Williams Christmas pear, Madame Verté.
Colorful July pear: First recorded in France in 1857; medium-sized, conical to pear-shaped fruit; shell green-yellow to bright yellow, flamed red on the sunny side; Summer pear: Ripens from July; juicy, tenderly melting pulp; hardy; prefers a sunny to semi-shady, protected location; popular as: dessert fruit, compote, juice, fruit brandy, cake topping, for preserving.
Clapp's favorite: Uniform, medium-sized to large fruits; light, yellowish-green skin, yellowish-red on the sunny side; Autumn pear: Ripens mid to late August; harvest hard ripe; sweet and sour, juicy pulp; undemanding early pear; grow sheltered from the wind; high yields; pollinator: Good Louise, William's Christ pear, Bosc's bottle pear.
concorde: bred in England in 1969 from Comice x Conference; medium-sized, elongated bottle-shaped fruits; green-yellow, rough skin with small spots of rust; Ripens mid to late September; high yield; crisp, juicy flesh with a pleasant sweet and sour aroma; little susceptible to scab; also grows in tubs; popular as: table pear, compote.
condo: Crossed in the Netherlands in 1965 from Vereinsdechants x Conference varieties; young pear variety; medium-sized, crooked pear-shaped fruits; smooth, green-yellow skin; ripening from the end of September; ripe for consumption from October to December; juicy, melting pulp with a sweet aroma and fine acidity; frost hardy; popular as: table pear.
Conference: Bred in England 1894; bottle-shaped fruits; green skin, light yellow when ripe; Ripening from mid-September to early October; very juicy and tenderly melting pulp, tasty with a slightly spicy aroma; hardy and perennial; Shaped fruit growing, tall stems, trellis, also as a container plant for the balcony or terrace; hardly any housing; very low in calories and high in fiber; most popular table pear.
Double Phillips bulb (also: Beurré de Mérode, Sommer Diel): In Belgium in the 19th century bred; large, truncated-conical fruits; green, later light yellow skin, attractive red on the sunny side; Autumn pear: Ripens from September; early onset, high yields; very juicy, tenderly melting pulp with a refreshingly sweet aroma; little susceptible to diseases and pests; popular as: table pear, fruit salad, cake topping.
barrel pear: Old, local pear variety of the Breisgau and Markgrälerland; medium-sized, bulbous fruits; green-yellow skin, reddened on the sunny side; maturity from September; spicy-sweet pulp; popular as: table, economy, cooking and cider pear
Early from Trevoux: Medium to large, pear-shaped fruits; smooth green-yellow skin, yellow-red on the sunny side; Ready to pick in August (harvest when ripe), ripe for consumption at the end of August to the beginning of September; refreshing, juicy melting pulp; very resistant to diseases; pollinator: Bosc's bottle pear, Gellert's Butter Pear, Williams Christmas pear, Madame Verté.
Gellert's Butter Pear: bred in France in 1820 and named after the songwriter Gellert; large, blunt, broadly pear-shaped fruits; dull green to yellow skin with typical brown rust coating, orange-red on the sunny side; Ripens from early September to mid-October; lasts until the end of October; very juicy, melting pulp with a sweet-wine-sour aroma; little susceptible to scab, good frost hardiness; prefers a sunny, sheltered spot; popular as: table pears, fruit salad, dried, juice and canned pears; pollinator: Good Louise, William's Christ pear.
Countess of Paris: bred in France in 1884; large, oblong fruits; light green skin, yellowish body colour; ready to pick from mid to late October, ready to eat November to February; coarse-grained, sweet-juicy flesh, exquisite taste; pollinator: Bosc's bottle pear, colorful July pear, Clapp's darling, Gellert's Butter Pear, Madame Verté, Williams Christbirne.
Big cat head (also: Kronprinz Ferdinand, Schinkenbirne, Winterbutterbirne): Was grown in Franconian tree nurseries as early as 1590; today only sporadically distributed; very large, spherical-top-shaped fruits; thick, matt-shiny skin, yellowish in color, flamed brownish-red on the sunny side, many brown skin spots and slight russeting; Ready for picking from mid-October; ripe for consumption from December to January; plentiful yield; firm, juicy flesh with a sweet aroma; turns reddish when cooked; popular as: cooking, drying and cider pear.
Good Louise (also: Mrs. Louise Bonne Louise d'Avranches, Bonne de Longueval, William IV, Prince of Württemberg, French Rousselet): Traditional variety from Normandy; small to medium-sized, pear-shaped fruits; smooth, shiny, green skin with a washed-out reddish colour; Ripening from the beginning of September to October; can be kept in cold storage until January; fine-celled pulp with a sweetish, slightly fruity aroma typical of the variety; very susceptible to scab, somewhat sensitive to wood frost; prefers a sunny, sheltered location; popular as: table pear, fruit salad, cake topping, for canning.
Hofrat pear (also: Conseiller de la Cour, Marchal de Cour): One of the last breeds of the Belgian van Mons; large, circular to bottle-shaped fruits; rough, light green skin with thick, brown skin spots, dark yellowish-green and conspicuously cinnamon-colored rusts when fully ripe; Ready for picking from the end of September, ready for consumption from mid-October; can be stored well, but quickly becomes overripe; white, very juicy flesh with pleasant acidity and fine spice; extremely robust variety against fungal diseases and other pests; low soil requirements; popular as: table pear, compote; pollinator: Bosc's bottle pear, Gellert's Butter Pear, Good Louise, congress pear, Delicious of Charneux, Madame Verte.
Josephine of Mechelen: bred in Belgium in 1829 or 1830; small to medium-sized, circular fruits; Winter Pear: Ripens from December to February or March; good storage properties; very juicy, sweet-aromatic taste with fine spice; also suitable for trellis; good pollen donor; popular as: table pear
congress pear (also: Souvenir du Congress): Bred in France in 1852; received its name in memory of the international pomology congress in Paris in 1867; very large, irregular and dented fruits; smooth, yellowish-green skin; deep yellow when ripe and attractive red washed out and striped on the sunny side, a few spots of rust; Autumn pear: ripe in September; only short-lived; very juicy pulp with a sweet aroma without acidity; moderately susceptible to scab; one of the largest pear varieties; popular as: table pear, compote; Pollinator: Williams Christmas pear, Delicious of Charneux.
Delicious of Charneux: Bred in Belgium; large, oval or conical fruits; fine, greenish-yellow, later golden-yellow skin, streaky reddening on the sunny side; ripening from mid-October; very juicy, melting pulp with an intensely sweet and spicy aroma; popular as: table and economy pear; extremely robust variety, also suitable for cultivation as a house tree in normal garden soil; pollinator: Bosc's bottle pear, Gellert's Butter Pear, Good Louise, William's Christ pear.
cowfoot: Mainly distributed in Northern Germany; pot-bellied, medium-sized fruits; yellow-green to red skin; ready to pick from September, ready to eat until mid-October; fine, sweet and juicy pulp; is very suitable for moist soil; popular as: economic brine; Pollinators: all good pollen donors.
Lebrun's butter pear (also: Le Brun): bred in France in 1855; large, long-conical, cup-bellied or cylindrical fruits; lemon-yellow skin, finely punctured and with rust spots around calyx and stem; ripening period from September to October; very juicy, melting pulp with a sweet, winey, spicy aroma; lover variety; not windproof; popular as: table pear.
Madame Verte: bred in Belgium in 1820; medium-sized, pot-bellied fruits; thick, dull gray skin, dull yellow in color and slightly reddened on the sunny side; Winter pear: ripe for picking in October, ripe for consumption from November to January; firm but juicy flesh with a refreshingly fruity-tart-sweet aroma; high yield; suitable for trellis cultivation, meadow orchards or as a house tree; popular as: table pears, storage pears, compote; pollinator: Bosc's bottle pear, Gellert's Butter Pear, Delicious of Charneux, Club Dechantsbirne, William's Christ pear.
minister dr Lucius (also: Lucius): moved near Leipzig in 1884; belongs to the apothecary pear family; large, rounded to ovate or elongated pear-shaped fruits; smooth, greenish skin, golden yellow when ripe, attractively slightly reddened on the sunny side, numerous skin spots, russeting and rust spots; ripening from September to October; very juicy flesh with a pleasant tart, sweet and sour aroma; extremely healthy; insensitive to pests; great fertility; popular as: table pear, compote, juice; pollinator: Good Louise, Blumenbach's Butter Pear, Bosc's bottle pear.
Pitmaston (also: Pitmaston Duchesse, Pitmaston's Duchess, Williams Duchess): Bred in England in 1841 from Duchess of Angouleme x Hardenpont's Butter Pear; very large, oblong, pear-shaped, bumpy, uneven fruits; smooth, green skin, lemon-yellow when ripe, many spots and a few spots of rust; ready to pick from mid-September, ready to eat from mid-October; about 4 weeks shelf life; juicy, melting pulp with a wine-sour aroma; susceptible to scab, sensitive to grating and pear leaf suckers; one of the largest table pears with up to 800 g per fruit; popular as: table pear, show fruit.
Princess Marianne: Bred around 1800; named after a daughter of the Dutch king; medium-sized, bottle-shaped fruits; rough, greenish to brownish-yellow skin with cinnamon-colored russeting when ripe; Autumn pear: Ripens from the end of September; juicy, melting pulp with a sweet and sour aroma; very resistant to pests and diseases; popular as: table fruit.
Swiss trousers (also: early melon pear, cucumber pear, Swiss bergamot): Already known in Switzerland around 1800; small fruits with conspicuous red, yellow and green vertical stripes (reminiscent of the robe of the Swiss Guard in the Vatican); Autumn pear: ripening from September to October; juicy, melting pulp with a sweet taste; robust and hardy lover's variety; popular as: decorative table pear.
Ulm butter pear: First described in 1868 under the name Albecker Steigbirne; small, round to ovoid fruits; light yellow to slightly greenish skin, bright red on the sunny side; Autumn pear: ripening from late September to mid-October; 2 weeks shelf life; juicy, melting pulp with a sweet, slightly spicy aroma; is mainly cultivated for orchards at higher altitudes; popular as: table pears, dried pears, for distilling schnapps.
Club dean's pear (also: Vereinsdechant, Doyenné du Comice, Comice): Bred in France in 1850; large, round to conical fruits; grey-green to yellow-green skin, slightly reddened on the sunny side, covered with yellow-brown spots, rusty stripes and spots; Autumn pear: Ripens from November; juicy, buttery flesh with an enticingly sweet aroma and a hint of spiciness (dubbed the “Queen of Pears” for its exceptional flavor); grows steeply upwards and should be planted on a trellis; pollinator: Bosc's bottle pear, Conference, Gellert's Butter Pear, Delicious of Charneux, William's Christ pear.
Rias butter pear: The mother tree of this variety is in Barmstedt; medium-sized, pear-shaped fruits; greenish skin, more golden yellow to reddish when ripe; ready to pick from mid-August to early September; up to 3 weeks shelf life; yellowish-white, melt-in-the-mouth flesh; Pollinator: Clapp's favorite; Good Louise; Madame Verte; William's Christ pear.
Red Williams Christmas pear: Peculiarity among the pear varieties; large, bell-shaped fruits; smooth, yellowish skin, attractively colored dark red when ripe for consumption; Summer pear: ripening from August to September; tenderly melting, sweet pulp with a sweet, nutmeg-like aroma; popular as: refreshing pears, juice, cider, compote, jam, for making fruit brandy; pollinator: Club Dechantsbirne, Delicious of Charneux.
summer bergamot: A very long-lived species; small to medium-sized fruits; smooth yellow skin, red on the sunny side; ripening from the end of August; very aromatic taste Pollinators: all good pollen donors.
Stuttgart goat herd: Supposedly found near Stuttgart by a goatherd; small to medium-sized fruit; yellowish-green skin, dull reddish on the sunny side; Summer pear: ripening from August to September; juicy, slightly grainy flesh with a note of cinnamon; very undemanding variety, good resistance to pests and diseases; popular as: table and economy pear; Pollinator: Clapp's darling, Gellert's Butter Pear, Good Louise, William's Christ pear.
Triumph from Vienne: bred in France in 1874; very large fruits; rough, green-yellow skin, red on the sunny side; ripening from mid-September; 3 weeks shelf life; juicy, pleasantly sweet pulp; Yield very high every other year; Pollinator: Clapp's darling, Countess of Paris, Good Louise.
After choosing the variety, the next step is the cultivation of the pear. You can find out how best to do this in our article on the topic "Plant a pear tree“.
