Pound European Pear is a venerable heirloom fruit tree that has enchanted gardeners across three continents for centuries. Named for the substantial size of its fruit, each pear typically weighs a pound or more, making it one of the largest winter storage pears available. Hardy in zones 5 through 9 and reaching 15 feet at maturity, this tree produces green pears with firm flesh that transforms into golden, delicious fruit when stored and cooked through winter months. Its journey from Roman antiquity through American colonial orchards to modern heritage gardens makes it a living connection to centuries of pomological tradition.
Full Sun
Moderate
5-9
180in H x ?in W
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Moderate
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Pound pears were cultivated for over two thousand years, beloved across Europe and America as the ultimate winter keeper. Each substantial fruit stores beautifully, its firm green flesh gradually yellowing and sweetening into something altogether different from the fresh-picked form. The variety carries an exceptional backstory: Raintree's own stock came from a San Juan Island orchard originally planted in 1870, which they helped restore from near extinction, making every tree a tangible link to American pomological heritage.
Pound pears excel as a winter cooking pear, their firm flesh and substantial size making them ideal for poaching, stewing, and preserving. When freshly picked, they remain hard and somewhat austere, but after several weeks of storage, the flesh softens and sweetens dramatically, developing the complex flavor that made them prized for winter desserts and compotes. The large size accommodates halving and coring for elegant poached pear preparations or transformation into pear butter and preserves.
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Transplant bare-root or container-grown Pound pear trees in spring or fall, when the tree is dormant or just beginning to break dormancy. Space trees at least 15 feet apart to accommodate mature size and allow for air circulation. Plant in full sun with soil pH between 6.0 and 7.0, ensuring the graft union (if present) is above soil level.
Pound pears should be harvested before fully ripe, when the fruit is still firm and green but has begun to show signs of maturity (slight color change or softening at the stem end). Pick pears while they still feel quite hard to the touch; they will continue to ripen during storage. The substantial size, often reaching a pound or more per fruit, makes them easy to identify at readiness. Harvest in mid to late autumn before hard frosts arrive.
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“Pound European Pear likely dates back to Roman times, though its documented history truly flourishes in medieval and renaissance Europe, where it became known in France as Belle Angevine. The variety remained a favorite for hundreds of years across America, England, and France, appearing in colonial orchards and farmstead collections throughout the 19th century. Raintree Nursery's own propagation stock descended from a National Park orchard on San Juan Island, Washington, that was originally planted in 1870. When Raintree helped restore this historic planting from decline, they preserved not just a tree but a direct lineage stretching back generations of American orchardists.”