Pear Varieties for Northern Climates

Pear Varieties for Northern Climates

There are three types of pear trees: European pears, Asian pears, and Perry (pear cider) pears. Most pear trees are not self-pollinating. They usually require two varieties that flower simultaneously for pollination to occur. Asian pears can pollinate European pears and vice versa, assuming they flower simultaneously. There are some self-pollinating pear tree varieties, but they will benefit from a pollinator and produce more fruit than if planted alone. Given below is a brief description of the different types of pear trees and a chart of the most common varieties of each type. Many characteristics can vary depending on the rootstock the tree is grafted onto, the weather conditions that year, or even microclimates within your zone. There are often many other possible pollinators than those listed. Cummins Nursery and Keepers Nursery are both great resources to check for pollination partners. If you have a favorite cold-hardy pear that is not on this list, please send me a message so I can add it. These charts are not comprehensive, as there are over 3,000 varieties of pears; therefore, I chose ones that are commonly available at several different nurseries.

European Pears

​European pears are the most common type of pear in the United States. They are native to Europe and Asia and are classically “pear-shapedâ€