Pyrus communis Moonglow (European Pear)

A very heavy bearer, Pyrus communis 'Moonglow' is a multi-purpose cultivar with a profusion of fragrant, creamy white flowers in early mid-season (early-mid spring). Draped in clusters along the branches, they are truly a sight to behold. They are followed in late summer by a heavy crop of large, thin-skinned, yellow pears adorned with a red blush. Their white flesh is soft, juicy with excellent flavor. They are perfect for eating, canning and preserves. Moonglow is not self-fertile and requires pollination by a tree of another variety with the same bloom period such as Bartlett or Orient. The foliage of elliptic glossy green leaves turns pretty shades of red and yellow in fall. Developed in the 1960s by the US Department of Agriculture, Moonglow is an upright, vigorous tree very resistant to fireblight, one of the most serious diseases of pears. Beautiful in bloom, handsome in full leaf, heavy with luscious pears, attractive in fall, picturesque in winter, pear trees are very rewarding additions to the landscape across the seasons.

• Grows up to 12-15 ft. tall (3-4 m) and 8-10 ft. wide (2-3 m) as a dwarf variety. Grows up to 15-20 ft. tall and wide (4-6 m) as a standard tree.
• 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 and 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.