Asian pears have a crisp, juicy texture and flavors that range from mild cantaloupe to sweet toffee and caramel.
The fruit has a spherical appearance like an apple and skins that range in color from creamy pink, pale lavender, and yellow to golden and reddish, according to the kind.
Asian pears are also permitted to ripen on the tree from midsummer to mid-autumn, unlike European types, and do not require cold storage before eating.
In the spring, Asian pear trees are covered in fragrant, attractive white blossoms, and in the fall, the foliage turns vibrant colours of orange, red, and yellow.
Let’s take a look at nine of the most popular Asian pear cultivars for home gardens.
9 Asian Pear Varieties
Pyrus pyrifolia, often known as apple, Chinese, or sand pears, is a highly aromatic and delectable fruit that comes in two varieties.
Smooth-skinned types have green or yellow skin and a mellow, sweet flavor that can be melon-like or fragrant.
The rough-skinned cultivars have golden, brown, or russet skin with a rich pear flavor with brown sugar, butterscotch, or caramel undertones.
Asian pears ripen on the tree and are ready to be picked when the flesh is still firm and the skins have developed mature colors.
The majority of Asian pear types are self-pollinating and yield enough crops when grown alone. However, when planted with other pear trees that bloom at the same time, they all benefit from cross-pollination and generate higher harvests.
Take a look at nine of the greatest Asian pear varieties for the home garden with us.
1. 20th Century
’20th Century,’ also known as Nijisseiki, is prized for its profusion of luscious fruit and multi-season interest.
The appealing, medium-sized fruit is golden yellow with a rosy tinge and has a crisp texture and mild flavor.
Branch clusters of beautiful white blooms cover the branches before the leaves appear. Fruit is picked in early August, and the glossy green leaves turn a vivid orange-red in the autumn.
These are self-fertile, although cross-pollination with other types with the same midseason bloom time yields a larger crop. Fruits can be stored in cold storage for four to five months at 32 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Chojuro
‘Chojuro’ boasts firm, gold-to-russet fruit with a delectable crunch and the distinct, sweet flavor of butterscotch, making it popular among home gardeners.
This Asian pear blooms in the middle of the season, giving lovely clusters of creamy white blossoms. The leaves turn a magnificent shade of scarlet and deep orange in the fall.
Late August to mid-September is when the fruit ripens on the branch, and these pomes have a long storage life of up to six months in the refrigerator.
‘Chojuro’ has a rounded, upright growth habit and can reach a mature height of 12 feet with an eight-foot spread. It grows well in Zones 5 to 8.
When cross-pollinated with others that bloom at the same time, such as ’20th Century,’ this self-pollinating variety will yield a larger harvest of pears.
3. Drippin’ Honey
‘Drippin’ Honey’ is a lovely cultivar with huge, delicately russeted amber-gold fruits with crisp white flesh and a delicious honey-sweet flavor.
The pears are harvested in October after clouds of white blossoms bloom in the early to mid-season. The waxy green leaves turn a lovely orange and scarlet color in the autumn.
The rounded trees attain a mature height of 16 to 20 feet with a 16-foot spread, are easy to care for, and have excellent resistance to fire blight. Zones 5 to 8 are suitable for ‘Drippin’ Honey’.
Plant at least one other pear tree that blooms at the same time as yours to ensure pollination. It’s a fantastic fruit for storing, the harvest will keep for up to six months when refrigerated.
4. Hosui
‘Hosui’ is prized for its delicious honey-russet fruit with firm white flesh, a delightfully tart flavor, and an excellent crunch.
It blooms profusely in the early spring, and the spherical, medium-sized fruits are mature and ready for harvest beginning in mid-August.
As the leaves turn colours of yellow, fiery orange, and crimson, they put on a spectacular fall display.
At maturity, it grows to a height of 10 to 15 feet and a spread of eight to 12 feet, with a flexible columnar shape. Zones 4 to 9 are suitable for ‘Hosui’.
This cultivar thrives best when planted with other early bloomers because it is self-pollinating. In the refrigerator, the fruit has a four to five month shelf life.
5. Kosui
‘Kosui’ yields medium-sized amber fruits with bronze russeting and full-flavored, sweet flesh with a juicy crunch that may be stored in the refrigerator for up to two months.
The pears ripen in late July to mid-August, followed by autumn colors of yellow to red, and the trees are covered in lovely white blossoms that bloom early to midseason.
These trees reach a height of 15 to 20 feet and a spread of about 12 feet. They are a vigorous variety with an upright, columnar shape.
Cross-pollination with other early bloomers is required for ‘Kosui’ trees, which are hardy in Zones 4 to 9.
6. Niitaka
‘Niitaka’ is a high-yielding variety with huge caramel-russet fruits with a pink flush on occasion. The flesh is off-white in color and has a crisp, juicy texture with a faint melon flavor.
The rounded trees grow to be 10 to 15 feet tall with a spread of 10 to 12 feet at maturity. They flower early in the season, and the fruits ripen in September and October, with a two- to four-month storage life in the refrigerator.
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These trees are self-pollinating, but when planted alongside other early-season bloomers, they produce more fruit.
7. Olympic Giant
‘Olympic Giant,’ also known as ‘Korean Giant,’ produces extra-large russeted green-gold pears with cream-colored flesh that has a crisp, juicy bite and a sweet butterscotch flavor.
The rounded trees bloom in the middle of the season and put on a blazing display of reddish-orange foliage in the fall. The fruit ripens in mid-to late October and grows to reach 16 to 18 feet tall with a spread of 12 to 16 feet.
‘Olympic Giant,’ one of the best-keeping Asian pears, has a shelf life of up to six months in the refrigerator.
This cultivar does not self-pollinate and requires cross-pollination from other cultivars with a similar midseason flowering time.
8. Shinseiki
The ‘Shinseiki’ variety, sometimes known as ‘New Century,’ produces large, crisp, white fruit with a pleasantly sweet flavor and a juicy bite.
The almost-translucent skin is freckled with small, green to brown lenticels and appears in a range of colors from pale yellow to celery green (or raised pores).
The fruit ripens in late August to mid-September and is an early bloomer with a dense show of blooms.
Mature trees reach a height of 12 to 18 feet and a spread of 10 to 12 feet, with a nice, rounded shape and a lovely fall display of brilliant orange and scarlet.
Although ‘Shinseiki’ trees are self-pollinating, cross-pollination with others in the early flowering group results in higher yields.
9. Yoinashi
‘Yoinashi’ produces medium-sized fruit with softly russeted gold-to-bronze skin and crisp, juicy flesh that is aromatic and pleasantly scented of butterscotch with mild floral notes.
Beautiful white blossoms decorate the rounded trees that grow eight to 15 feet tall with a comparable spread and bloom early in the season.
The fruit ripens from mid-August to mid-September and lasts two to three months in the refrigerator. The leaves turn a brilliant orange and scarlet color in the fall.
‘Yoinashi’ is robust in Zones 5 to 10 and has excellent resistance to fire blight. These trees are self-pollinating, but when cross-pollinated with other early season kinds, they produce greater crops.
Which Asian Pear Is Self Pollinating?
The “Shinseiki” and “20th Century” are two self-fruitful Asian pear varieties that thrive in California. Shinseiki trees yield spherical pears with yellow skin and grow best in USDA plant hardiness zones 6 through 8.
The “20th Century” variety yields spherical, yellow-skinned pears that are more tasty than “Shinseiki” pears and is hardy in USDA zones 5 through 9.
Which Is The Sweetest Asian pear?
The Asian Pear New Century (also known as Nijisseiki) is a superb variety that yields a lot of luscious yellow fruit.
The Asian Pear cultivated on a New Century tree is undoubtedly the sweetest and juiciest currently available. In fact, these luscious pears have a flavor and texture that is considerably closer to that of a watermelon than ordinary pears!
In conclusion
Asian pear trees are fruitful, easy to harvest, and have a distinct flavor. They also add beauty to the garden with masses of spring blossoms and fiery autumn colors.
They come in a range of sizes, from dwarf to standard, so they may fit into even the tiniest of gardens.
Also, even with self-pollinating trees, planting a second one that flowers at the same time ensure a plentiful harvest.
Is there a particular variety that you prefer? Please share your thoughts in the comments box below.
