Pyrus communis

Pear

Physical Traits & Growth

Typical max. heightiMaximum height in typical conditions, in metres. Full data also shows maximum achievable height in exceptional conditions.: Depends on rootstock and variety

Max. canopy widthiLikely maximum horizontal width of the canopy, in metres:
Ovoid crown 1
Upright and slender 3
Spread depends on rootstocks

Size of shadowiSize of shadow based on a fully grown tree, categorised as low, medium or high: Low (126 sqm), cultivated forms depend on variety and rootstock

Canopy densityiShading intensity of the canopy when in full leaf. Categorised from open to dense.: Dense 1

Leaf emergenceiTime of leaf emergence, categorised as very early, early, late, or evergreen: Early (Apr to Nov 1)

Growth rateiHow quickly the tree grows during establishment. Categorised as low, moderate or high, with very high used in exceptional cases.: Low 3 to moderate 1

LongevityiExpected lifespan of the tree: Potentially 200+ years 2 or 300 years 8

Management & Systems

Typical systemsiCommon agroforestry or silvicultural systems where this species is used:
Arable or pasture 1, lowland 12
Arable, pasture and veg systems 5

Approach to silvicultureiCoppicing and pollarding ability: Orchard tree 1

Establishment requirementsiCommon requirements to establish the tree:
Slow-growing, requires good light levels 3
Staking, formative pruning, watering during any prolonged drought 4

Management requirementsiCommon long-term management needs such as pruning. Categorised as low, moderate or high.: No pruning required, but fruit production benefits from winter pruning 1

Pruning timeiOptimal season for pruning: Winter 2

Pyrus communis Daniel VILLAFRUELA https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en

Products & Economy

Food productsiCommon food products such as fruits and nuts: Fruits 1 – fresh, canned, dried, juiced 5

Wood productsiCommon wood products, including timber, turnery, and pulp: Speciality timber 1

BiomassiCommon biomass products such as fuelwood: Some opportunities for fuelwood from pruning 3

Speciality productsiOther speciality and niche products: –

Time until market (food)iNumber of years until the tree produces food products: Full cropping reached in 3-5 years for modern systems, 6-9 for traditional 3

Time until market (timber)iNumber of years until the tree produces wood products: –

Ecology & Utility

Nutrient and organic matter accumulationiRough estimate of soil-improving properties, with larger and deeper-rooting trees predicted to have higher value. Categorised as low, moderate or high.: Moderate – deep roots but low canopy area

Nitrogen fixationiNitrogen-fixing properties, categorised as yes or no: No

High carbon sequestrationiAll trees sequester carbon, but faster-growing, larger trees generally have higher sequestration potential.:
Short-term (20 years): Relatively low
Medium-term (40 years): Very low
Long-term (60 years): Very low

Native status in the UKiCategorised as native, long-established, or recent introduction.: Long-established introduction (archaeophyte) – cultivated 1

High wildlife valueiMost trees are likely to be of some value to wildlife, but some trees are of generally higher value to various wildlife groups:
High 5
Highest value for foliage invertebrates, leaf litter, pollen and nectar 5

Pollinators

Flowering period (pollinator benefit)iTypical flowering months: Apr-May 1

High pollen and nectar value for pollinatorsiValue of flowers to pollinators: Moderate to high 1

Susceptibility & Risks

Risk of toxicity to livestockiReported potential toxicity to livestock, categorised as yes or no. Toxicity is complex and often context-specific.: None known

Risks to farming operationsiOther risks such as suckering roots, very large tree size, secondary host for aphids, and flammability: None known

Disease susceptibilityiSusceptibility of the tree (not tree products) to diseases, e.g. fungal and bacterial disease:
High, but can be reduced by using resistant varieties 13
Prone to infectious diseases, including fungal diseases such as apple and pear scab and bacterial diseases such as fire blight 3
May be susceptible to blossom wilt, brown rot, fireblight, pear scab, European pear rust and honey fungus (rarely) 6

Invertebrate pest susceptibilityiSusceptibility of the tree (not tree products) to invertebrate pests, e.g. aphids and other insects:
Moderate to high
May be susceptible to aphids, caterpillars, codling moth, pear blister mite, pear midge, pear and cherry slugworm 6

Vertebrate damage susceptibilityiSusceptibility of the tree (not tree products) to vertebrate pests, e.g. squirrels and deer:
Moderate
Moderate sensitivity to browsing for wild pear 7