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Giffard European Pear

bare-root trees
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Pyrus communis
Summer, red-blushed yellow-green skin.

Chance seedling discovered by Nicolas Giffard, Foussieres, France, 1825. Introduced to the U.S. about 1850. Also called Beurre Giffard.

Very high-quality dessert pear is one of the first to ripen in our orchard, in midsummer about a week before Staceyville. Soft melting slightly coarse flesh is very similar to Bartlett. Delicious. Medium-sized acute-pyriform fruit has tender greenish-yellow skin with a dotted red blush and conspicuous greenish or russet dots. Small core. Pick them a little green and ripen them inside, or pick them daily just as they ripen. Makes delicious pear-cardamon jam.

The tree is medium sized, vigorous, spreading and productive. Extremely hardy. Z3.

(2½–5' bare-root trees)

Maine Grown. BACK!
ships in spring
Quick Details
Harvest Season
summer
Maine Grown
Yes
Skin Color
red-blushed yellow-green
Hardy to Zone
3
Compare
Compare with other European Pears
Variety Product Type Harvest Season Maine Grown Skin Color Hardy to Zone
Bartlett bare-root trees late summer Yes greenish yellow 4
Bosc bare-root trees fall russeted dark yellow 4
Cabot Vermont bare-root trees fall Yes greenish yellow 4
Dana Hovey bare-root trees winter Yes russeted golden-yellow 4
Devoe bare-root trees late summer Yes red-blushed golden yellow 4
Giffard bare-root trees summer Yes red-blushed yellow-green 3
Harrow Delight bare-root trees early summer Yes yellow-green 4
Kaspar’s Winter bare-root trees late fall-winter Yes mottled blushed green 4
Luscious bare-root trees early fall Yes yellowish 3
Magness bare-root trees late summer Yes russeted greenish yellow 4
Patten bare-root trees late summer Yes red-blushed greenish yellow 3
Seckel bare-root trees late summer Yes red-blushed yellow 4
Summer Blood Birne bare-root trees Yes pink-blushed yellow 4
Summercrisp bare-root trees midsummer Yes red-blushed green 3
Winter Nelis bare-root trees winter Yes russeted yellow 4
Bosc scionwood fall russeted dark yellow 4
Gorham scionwood early fall 3
Kaspar’s Winter scionwood late fall-winter mottled blushed green 4
Magness scionwood late summer russeted greenish yellow 4
Seckel scionwood late summer red-blushed yellow 4
Stacyville scionwood late summer 3
Additional Information

Pears Pyrus spp.

European Pears Pyrus communis

Native to temperate Europe and Asia, pears can grow up to 100' tall in the wild. Many pear varieties are hardy in New England but tend to take longer to come into bearing than apples and might not bear every year. Farther south, pears tend to bear annually. Pick fruit when green and ripen it on the shelf. Or, for optimal eating, try this method, from Ed Fackler of Rocky Mountain Orchard: “…when fruits exhibit slight color changes, begin to test pressure (using your thumb) near the stem. When there is a slight ‘give,’ pick all the fruit, store at or near 35° for 7 or more days. Then remove them as needed, allow them to sit at room temps for 2–4 days which allows them to ripen to peak flavor.” Pears are on OHxF97 and will reach 25' or taller at maturity. (2½–6' trees)

Perry Pears Perry is fermented pear juice—the pear equivalent of hard cider. While you can ferment any pear juice, the best perry is made from small dry astringent varieties selected over the centuries just for that purpose. Most of these perry pears are not suitable for fresh eating or cooking. These trees are a good investment—they should live to be about 300 years old.

Asian Pears Pyrus pyrifolia

There are thousands of named Asian pear cultivars in China, where they have been grown for more than 2000 years. They bear young and are long-lived. Asian pears differ from European pears: they are crisper and very juicy, sweet and mild with a nutty background, and are roundish in shape. Because they set heavily, thin the crop once or even twice during the first two months after bloom to ensure large fruit. Leave about one fruit per spur. Unlike European pears, they should be tree-ripened. When the seeds are black, the pears are ready. They ripen in late summer and keep for several weeks with refrigeration.

Asian pears reach 15–20' at maturity.

Growing Pears

  • Soil: Prefers well-drained fertile soil.
  • Sun: Full.
  • Pollination:
    • European Pears We recommend planting a second variety for pollination, though some European pears may be self-pollinating. Bloom times are similar for all varieties we offer.
    • Asian Pears We recommend planting a second variety for pollination, though some Asian pears may be self-pollinating. Some European pears, notably Bartlett, will also act as pollinators.
  • Planting and Pruning: See our planning and planting and pests and diseases pages for more information about soil prep, planting, pruning, and pest control.
  • Spacing: 15–20' apart.

Shipping

Items from our perennial plants warehouse ordered on or before February 20 will ship from March through early May, starting with warmer areas and finishing in colder areas.

Orders placed after February 20 will ship from April to May.