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Fruit Edible

Pyrus communis 'Pitmaston Duchess' (C/D)

pear 'Pitmaston Duchess'

A dessert and cooking pear that has a sweet delicate flavour when cooked - quite sugary and melting. It has large handsome fruits that are excellent for exhibition and attractive blossom on a vigorous tree. Crops over a short season in late September to October. Pollination group 4 and is a triploid. Any non-triploid pear in flowering group 3, 4 or 5 will pollinate it, but because 'Pitmaston Duchess' produces no viable pollen a third, different, pear must be grown to pollinate the pollinator

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Plant nurseries
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Ultimate height

4–8 metres

Time to ultimate height

5–10 years

Ultimate spread

4–8 metres

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained, Well–drained

pH

Acid, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Rosaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Pyrus are deciduous trees or shrubs with oval leaves and scented white flowers in spring, followed by green or brown fruits, edible in some species
Name status: Accepted

How to grow

Cultivation

Plant in a well-drained, but fertlie soil in full sun. The ideal pH is 6.5, but will tolerate other soils, if they are deep (45-60cm (18-24in) and enriched with well-rotted organic matter. Suitable for all training forms including espaliers, fan-training, pyramids and cordon. Needs two other pear cultivars for pollination. Keep a weed free area of 60cm radius around the trunk. Thin fruit if necessary

Propagation

Propagate by grafting or chip budding onto a rootstock for fruit. Quince rootstocks are usually used for pears

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
City and courtyard gardens
Wildlife gardens
Edible fruit
Wall side borders

Pruning

Regular pruning required, according to form: cordons, espaliers and pruning established fans. Can also be grown as standards or spindlebushes. For further guidance see: pruning new pear trees, summer pear pruning, winter pear pruning, renovating pear trees

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids, caterpillars, codling moth, pear blister mite, pear midge and pear and cherry slugworm

Diseases

May be susceptible to blossom wilt, brown rot, fireblight, pear scab, European pear rust and honey fungus (rarely)

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