Our 15 Favorite Pear Tree Varieties for Home Gardens

Grown since prehistoric times, pears are long-lived fruit-bearing trees that are also easy to grow in our ornamental or edible landscapes. They feature loads of delicate blooms in the spring and showy foliage in the fall.

If you’ve experienced a home-grown autumn pear, you know its sweet, juicy, silky qualities. From August to November (or longer, depending on the variety and climate), backyard orchards come into flavor with the blushing green and gold fruits. 

With versatile at-home growing options, from in-ground plantings to containers to espalier to raised beds, pears become an easy addition to the autumn harvest and palette. Enjoy the best selections for the home garden as we dive into mouth-watering goodness.

Pear Basics

The ancient fruits likely originate in Central Asia near the Black and Caspian Seas. In the Rosaceae (rose) family, pears are apple relatives but often grow more easily with fewer pest and disease issues. European varieties (Pyrus communis) are what we find at the grocery store with soft, mealy interiors. Asian pears (Pyrus serotina or hybrids) have white, crisp flesh. Both are sweet and juicy, with flavors varying by selection.

For Pyrus trees, pollination and fruit set improve by planting two or more varieties within 100 feet to attract bees and other insects. Some varieties are self-fruitful and yield a good crop without other varieties, but the more cultivars, the better in most cases.

Trees generally reach 15 to 25 feet tall but are available in dwarf or semi-dwarf sizes depending on rootstock and grafting. The variety is the same, but the dwarf root selection keeps the trees small. Dwarf growers usually reach 8 to 12 feet tall.

Fireblight is a bacterial disease that causes blackening and dieback, especially in humid climates. Look for resistant varieties for the best success.

There are over 3,000 varieties of pears, with ‘Bartlett’, ‘Anjou’, ‘Bosc’, and ‘Comice’ as the most common in commercial production. In the home garden, we can grow diverse varieties without the need to ship or store them. Most pears in the U.S. come out of California, Oregon, and Washington, with a harvest season from July to December (December is National Pear Month). 

Chill Hours and Growing Conditions

Pears require a certain amount of chill hours to set fruits. Chill time is at temperatures between 32°F and 45°F (0-7°C), and the amount needed varies by species. Asian pears usually require less chill hours and are a good fit for warmer climates, while European varieties require more chill hours and grow well in cooler areas.

Site selection and cultural requirements for pears are similar to apples. They’re easy additions to the home garden, whether full-size or dwarfed.

‘Moonglow’

	botanical name Pyrus communis ‘Moonglow’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 18-20’
	hardiness zones 5-8

‘Moonglow’ is a vigorous pear variety that produces beautiful fruit for years. The burgundy-gold skins hold soft, juicy flesh with a sweet, mild flavor. They don’t have that gritty feel that some do. 

‘Moonglow’ is good for fresh eating and for juices and canning. Branching is very upright and produces buds on spurs (short, branched shoots).

This is an early variety that ripens in August. ‘Bartlett’ and ‘Seckel’ make good cross-pollinators. Top it off with fireblight resistance, and we have a great variety to add to the backyard orchard!

‘Seckel’

	botanical name Pyrus communis ‘Seckel’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 10-15’
	hardiness zones 5-8

‘Seckel’ is also called “sugar pear” due to its sweet flavor and is one of the highest quality. The small, golden-bronze fruits grow across climates and are ready for fresh eating just after harvest.

Short, stout, and sometimes with a red blush, ‘Seckel’ is well-suited for fresh eating and also for canning and pickling. It has a spicy-sweet flavor, a crisp bite, and fine-grained, juicy flesh.

‘Seckel’ is a heritage variety thought to originate from a wild pear tree seedling near Philadelphia in the 1800s. Cold hardy with frost tolerance, it grows well in southern climates and is blight-resistant. ‘Seckel’ is somewhat self-pollinating but sets the best buds with other varieties nearby.

‘Warren’

	botanical name Pyrus communis ‘Warren’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 12-25’
	hardiness zones 5-8

‘Warren’ shows medium to large, long-necked, teardrop-shaped pears in dusky green with a red blush. The smooth interiors are buttery, silky, and grit-free.

Found in Mississippi in 1976, ‘Warren’ is the namesake of discoverer Thomas Warren, founder of the North American Fruit Explorers. The group seeks to discover and cultivate superior fruits and nuts.

‘Warren’ is a good source of pollen for other European cultivars. The pyramidal trees resist fire blight.

‘Shinko’

	botanical name Pyrus pyrifolia ‘Shinko’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 8-20’
	hardiness zones 5-9

‘Shinko’ is a beautiful Asian variety with apple-shaped fruits in golden brown and delicate light speckles. Crisp and juicy, they have a bright, sweet taste and store well.

‘Shinko’ trees are very productive, and the “apples” ripen right on the branch, unlike European varieties, which we harvest firm and green to ripen after picking.

‘Shinko’ pollination benefits from another Asian type in the growing vicinity. It needs only 400-500 chill hours for the best bud set. The rounds are ready for harvest mid-season during September.

‘Bartlett’

	botanical name Pyrus communis ‘Bartlett’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 12-20’
	hardiness zones 4-9

‘Bartlett’ is an old garden favorite. The classic bell-shaped pyrates are rich, full of juice, and versatile fresh, baked, juiced, or stored.

The standards make good pollinator resources for other trees. While reliably productive, they are somewhat susceptible to fire blight, especially in hot, humid situations.

The early ripeners begin in August and go as long as February, depending on climate. We often find these in the grocery store, fresh green turning to yellow when ripe. Look for red Bartletts for the same characteristic flavor in burnished scarlet. Mix the two, and your fall centerpiece will be complete!

Bartlett is the same as Williams pears, or ‘Williams’ Bon Chrétien’ from England. The trees made their way to an estate in Roxbury, Massachusetts, in the late 1700s. Later, with their origin undetermined, they became popular under the estate owner’s name, Bartlett, in the United States. 

‘Luscious’

	botanical name Pyrus communis ‘Luscious’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 10-20’
	hardiness zones 4-8

‘Luscious’ is indeed decadent in its rich sweetness and creamy, buttery flesh. Showy fall color and good fire blight resistance are among its collection-worthy attributes.

‘Luscious’ is hardy, developed out of South Dakota State University, and a good option for areas with cold winters. Midsize fruits are bright yellow-green with a red blush and ripen in September.

The ornamental trees have an upright form with a rounded canopy. ‘Bartlett’ and ‘Kieffer’ make good pollinators.

‘Hosui’

	botanical name Pyrus pyrifolia ‘Hosui’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 10-20’
	hardiness zones 5-9

The stunning fruits of Asian pears look like those you’d unwrap from a specialty box. ‘Hosui’ yields round russets with golden bronze shading. Apple-crisp and bright, the fruits have a crunch softened with sweetness.

Like ‘Shinko,’ trees need only 400-500 chill hours to set buds, making them prime for moderate climates. They’re ready to harvest in late summer and early fall.

Trees are partially self-pollinating. Pair them with ‘Shinko’ for increased yields. Enjoy the aesthetics, production, and unique flavor of specialty Asian varieties.

‘Summercrisp’

	botanical name Pyrus communis ‘Summercrisp’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 15-20’
	hardiness zones 4-8

‘Summercrisp’ is another cold-hardy European pear variety with early ripening. Introduced by the University of Minnesota, this one fruits reliably despite cold winters. Chartreuse bells take on a burgundy blush for the late summer harvest.

The trees grow tall, but the canopy starts low, making it an accessible and abundant fruiter. Fast growing, ‘Summercrisp’ may live 70 years or more.

‘Baldwin’

	botanical name Pyrus communis ‘Baldwin’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 18-25’
	hardiness zones 5-9

‘Baldwin’ is a classic variety in light yellow-green with healthy oblong pears with round bases. The semi-firm and sugary interior makes for tasty fresh eating, desserts, and preserving.

In spring, white and pinkish blooms appear in clusters. ‘Bartlett’ and ‘Kieffer’ make good pairings for a high bud set.

Harvest season is from August to mid-October. Good disease resistance makes these a fit for southern gardens.

‘Kieffer’

	botanical name Pyrus communis ‘Kieffer’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 12-20’
	hardiness zones 4-9

‘Kieffer’ is a good cross-pollinating partner to various European types. The durable grower resists fire blight and tolerates periods of drought and flooding. It’s also a cold-hardy selection.

‘Kieffer’ yields large, golden pears with crisp, coarse interiors. These are best for cooking, baking, jarring, and canning. Pair them with fresh-eating varieties for a blend of options while promoting pollination. 

‘Kieffer’ is harvest-ready from mid-September through mid-October. Leave a few for birds and wildlife to enjoy as forage.

‘Magness’

	botanical name Pyrus communis ‘Magness’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 10-20’
	hardiness zones 5-9

‘Magness’ is another fan-favorite pear variety with that’s both flavorful and ornamental. A vigorous grower and productive fruiter, plants have an upright form with an open, rounded canopy. 

A 1960s USDA introduction, ‘Magness’ is a hybrid of award-winning ‘Comice’ and ‘Seckel.’ Its strong parentage promotes easy-care garden performance and dependable production.

The chartreuse fruits have a slight russet and are soft, sweet, juicy, and aromatic – ideal fresh or preserved and excellent for jams. The flesh is smooth and lacks grittiness.

The trees are fire blight-resistant and tolerate urban pollution. They’re also self-fertile (still best with partners nearby). 

‘Shinseiki’

	botanical name Pyrus pyrifolia ‘Shinseiki’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 8-10’
	hardiness zones 5-9

‘Shinseiki’ has it all with beauty, abundant fruits, and heat and cold tolerance. Ripening in late August, the dessert pears are round and thin-skinned with a creamy white interior.

Showy, fragrant white bloom clusters appear in mid-spring, and fall foliage is brilliant red. The trees show moderate blight resistance. Pair them with ‘Bartlett’ or other Asian cultivars for best budding.

‘Harrow Delight’

	botanical name Pyrus communis ‘Harrow Delight’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 30-40’
	hardiness zones 4-8

This high-quality pear with excellent flavor is heavy-bearing and produces early in the season. Ready about two weeks before Bartlett, it has similar characteristics and flavor profiles.

Trees boast exceptional disease resistance and vigor. Best fruiting occurs every two years, and buds benefit from thinning as they develop in the spring. Removing the smallest buds helps the remainder fully develop into large, flavorful specimens.

The tall growers do best with annual pruning for form and vigor. If you don’t have space for a shade tree or specimen, look for those on dwarf rootstock. They make pruning and picking easier and adapt to smaller spaces.

‘Concorde’

	botanical name Pyrus communis ‘Concorde’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 18-20’
	hardiness zones 6-9

‘Concorde’ is a Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit recipient and top pollinator selection. The compact dessert pear yields is harvest-ready in October. The crisp, crunchy profile is aromatic with hints of vanilla.

The pretty, elongated fruit has a graceful neck and round base in light green with burnished touches. The fruit is enjoyable at various ripening stages; the dense flesh is sweet and juicy even when slightly firm. 

The all-purpose pear is a result of hybridizing ‘Conference’ and ‘Comice,’ two stable European favorites for taste, texture, and performance.

‘Floridahome’

	botanical name Pyrus communis ‘Floridahome’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 15-20’
	hardiness zones 6-10

‘Floridahome’ boasts good quality and early blooming. This Florida pear variety grows well in moderate climates and tolerates heat and humidity.