Pyrus pyrifolia Nijisseiki (Asian Pear)

One of the most popular Asian pear varieties in the United States, Pyrus pyrifolia 'Nijisseiki' or '20th Century' (Asian Pear) is a dessert cultivar with a profusion of fragrant, creamy white flowers in midseason (mid-spring). Draped in clusters along the branches, they are truly a sight to behold. They are followed in late summer to early fall by a heavy crop of medium to large, round pears with smooth yellow skin. Their white flesh is crisp and mildly sweet. Nijisseiki is self-fruitful and can be pollinated by a tree of another variety with the same bloom period such as Bartlett or Shinseiki. Emerging coppery-bronze in spring, the foliage of elliptic glossy green leaves turns brilliant red-orange in the fall. Cold hardy, drought tolerant, and heat tolerant, Nijisseiki has low chill requirements (300-400 hours of temperatures below 45ºF (7ºC) in the winter for the buds to open in the spring), making it a good choice for milder climates. Beautiful in bloom, handsome in full leaf, heavy with luscious pears, attractive in fall, and picturesque in winter, pear trees are very rewarding additions to the landscape across the seasons.

• Grows up to 10-15 ft. tall (300-450 cm) and 10-12 ft. wide (300-360 cm). Mature size is however variable, depending on rootstock.
• A full sun lover, this tree is easily grown in deep, fertile, moist, well-drained soils. Prefers a sheltered, frost-free position.
• Pears should be pruned every year to get the best crop. They also need to be thinned to about 5 in. apart (12 cm) in late spring or early summer if you want to reap the best-quality fruit.
• Keep an eye out for aphids, caterpillars, codling moth, pear blister mite, pear midge and pear, cherry slugworm, pear scab, pear rust, brown rot, blossom wilt, and fireblight.
• Propagate by grafting or chip budding onto a clonal rootstock for fruit; quince rootstocks are usually used. The rootstock used will largely determine the vigor.