Cascade European Pear is a stunning red-skinned dessert pear bred at Oregon State University around 1940, combining the best traits of Max Red Bartlett and Comice parentage. This hardy cultivar thrives in zones 5-9 and reaches 12-16 feet at maturity, producing a cascade of gorgeous fruit ready for harvest in late September, about 10 days before standard Comice. With its sweet, aromatic flavor and exceptional keeping quality, it stores up to six months, earning its place as a holiday favorite for gardeners in maritime climates who want both beauty and substance.
Full Sun
Moderate
5-9
192in H x ?in W
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Moderate
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Cascade delivers dessert-quality pears with rich aromatic flavor and smooth, firm flesh that stores remarkably well for up to six months. This is a pear bred specifically to excel, crossed from two proven parents to combine red skin appeal with Comice's legendary flavor profile. The late September harvest window gives gardeners a natural holiday supply, and its cold hardiness down to zone 5 opens possibilities for northern fruit growers who thought pears were out of reach.
Cascade shines as a fresh dessert pear, where its sweet, aromatic flesh and excellent texture are best appreciated out of hand or simply sliced. Its outstanding keeping quality makes it especially valuable for holiday gifting and storage, allowing growers to enjoy homegrown pears well into winter months. The gorgeous red skin also makes these pears naturally ornamental while hanging on the tree, appealing to gardeners who want their fruit trees to earn their garden space through beauty as well as harvest.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Plant bare-root or container-grown Cascade pears in late fall or early spring, timing planting for dormancy to minimize transplant shock. Position the graft union (if present) 1-2 inches above soil level, backfill with amended soil, and water thoroughly to settle the soil and eliminate air pockets. Hardening off is not necessary for nursery stock; focus instead on establishing consistent moisture during the first growing season as the tree develops its root system.
Harvest Cascade pears in late September, approximately 10 days before standard Comice varieties mature. Pears are ready when they yield slightly to gentle pressure at the shoulder (the wider end opposite the stem) but still feel firm overall; they continue ripening after picking. Twist gently and lift the fruit with a slight upward motion, or use pruning shears to avoid damaging the spur. Harvest regularly once fruit begins to size up, as leaving overripe fruit on the tree can stress the tree and reduce next year's crop.
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“Cascade emerged from deliberate breeding work by Prof. Frank Charles Reimer at the Oregon State University Medford station around 1940. Reimer crossed Max Red Bartlett with Comice, two distinguished pear varieties, to create a cultivar that would combine the visual appeal and cold tolerance of one parent with the legendary dessert qualities of the other. This was scientific horticulture at work: taking what growers loved about existing varieties and engineering something better suited to Pacific Northwest conditions and the commercial market that valued both appearance and flavor.”