Asian pears · Dave Wilson Nursery

20th Century Asian Pear

A round, golden Asian pear that is crisp like an apple, with a sweet, mild flavor and heavy crops on a compact tree. At 300–400 chill hours it works in Phoenix as well as at mid elevation, ripening in July in the low desert. It is prone to fire blight in warm, damp springs, so cut out infected shoots promptly.

Chill hours: 300–400 hours
Harvest: July in the low desert; August at mid elevation
Pollination: Self-fruitful; heavier crops with Shinseiki or Bartlett nearby
Mature size: About 15 ft on OHxF 333, 20 ft on Calleryana; easy to hold at 8–10 ft with pruning

Which one

Every asian pear side by side

Same fruit, different seasons and different jobs. Pick the row that fits your ground and your calendar.

	A round, golden Asian pear that is crisp like an apple, with a sweet, mild flavor and heavy crops on a compact tree. At 300–400 chill hours it works in Phoenix as well as at mid elevation, ripening in July in the low desert. It is prone to fire blight in warm, damp springs, so cut out infected shoots promptly.	A russeted, golden-brown Asian pear that is crisp when ripe, with a rich flavor and a good reputation for storing. At about 450 chill hours it fits mid elevation, and it is marginal in Phoenix. It needs a second Asian pear nearby, and Hosui or Shinko are the usual partners.	A large, juicy, very sweet Asian pear with bronze-orange russet skin and a crisp, refreshing bite. It needs only 300–400 chill hours, so it does well in Phoenix as well as at mid elevation, though the big fruit can sunburn and it is quite prone to fire blight in warm, wet springs. Plant 20th Century or Shinko nearby for pollination.	A large to very large, round, thick-skinned pear with tart, juicy white flesh that sweetens as it sits in storage. It ripens late and needs about 500 chill hours, so it fits mid elevation and not Phoenix. Pollination partners are not published, so plant another Asian pear nearby.	A juicy, sweet, crisp Asian pear with golden-brown russet skin that ripens late, in September. It shows good fire blight resistance, which helps at mid elevation, and at about 450 chill hours it is marginal in Phoenix. Plant Hosui, Chojuro or Bartlett nearby for pollen.	An easy, vigorous Asian pear with bright yellow skin and crisp, sweet, juicy fruit that often bears by the second year. It is a proven low desert fruit that ripens early, around June to early July, ahead of the worst heat, and it also works at mid elevation, where it ripens in August. Thin it hard or the branches may snap.	A bell-shaped Asian pear, crisp and slow to brown when cut, with good resistance to fire blight. The chill range is wide, 150–450 hours, so it can work in Phoenix and at mid elevation, and it ripens early and sets fruit on its own. We found little Arizona track record for it.
Harvest	July in the low desert; August at mid elevation	August at mid elevation	July in the low desert; August at mid elevation	Late August to October at mid elevation	September at mid elevation	June to early July in the low desert; August at mid elevation	Late June to July in the low desert; August at mid elevation
Chill hours	300–400 hours	450 hours	300–400 hours	500 hours	450 hours	250–300 hours	150–450 hours
Pollination	Self-fruitful; heavier crops with Shinseiki or Bartlett nearby	Needs a partner such as Hosui, Shinko or another Asian pear	Needs a partner such as 20th Century, Shinko, Chojuro or Bartlett	No partner published; plant another Asian pear such as Shinko or Chojuro nearby	Needs a partner such as Hosui, Chojuro, Kikusui or Bartlett	Self-fruitful	Self-fruitful
Mature size	About 15 ft on OHxF 333, 20 ft on Calleryana; easy to hold at 8–10 ft with pruning	About 20–25 ft on Betulaefolia or Calleryana; easy to hold at 8–10 ft with pruning	About 15 ft on OHxF 333, 20 ft on Calleryana; easy to hold at 8–10 ft with pruning	About 20–25 ft on Calleryana; easy to hold at 8–10 ft with summer pruning	About 15 ft on OHxF 333, 20–25 ft on Betulaefolia; easy to hold at 8–10 ft with pruning	About 15 ft on OHxF 333, 20–25 ft on Betulaefolia; easy to hold at 8–10 ft with pruning	About 15 ft on OHxF 333; easy to hold at 8–10 ft with summer pruning
From	$31	$30	$25	$31	$30	$30	$35

Where this tree sits

Asian pears sit in the lower canopy layer.

Lower canopy

Fruit trees kept below the tall ones. Most of this year's program lives here, held to eight or ten feet by summer pruning.

Build your planting plan

20th Century Asian Pear

Every asian pear side by side

Asian pears sit in the lower canopy layer.

Other options in the lower canopy layer