The Low-Maintenance Pear Tree Variety That's Easiest To Grow In Your Yard

Pears are one of the best fruits to grow in your front yard, your garden, or even a container (for dwarf varieties) on your property. This isn't just because pears are delicious. It's because caring for a pear tree is pretty simple. Asian pear trees (Pyrus pyrifolia) are the easiest to maintain because they handle water shortages and partial shade better than their European counterparts (Pyrus communis). They're also less prone to fire blight, a potentially fatal bacterial disease that ravages many European pears. Asian pears perform best in USDA hardiness zones 5a through 8b. For optimal harvests, choose a growing site that gets at least six hours of sun each day and plant two Asian pear trees that will cross-pollinate.

Asian pears have a few other attributes that make them low-maintenance, too. One is their low risk of insect infestation. Another is their adaptability. They're not fussy about the ground they call home, accepting sandy or clay-laden soil as long as it drains water effectively. A healthy tree can produce 100 to 200 pears each fall when it has chilled at temperatures below 45 degrees Fahrenheit the previous winter. The amount of chilling time needed varies from cultivar to cultivar, but most Asian pear trees must spend 400 to 500 hours in this state each year. If you keep your tree content with regular hydration, fertilization, and branch trimming, it's likely to bear fruit two to five years after planting and live for another 25 years. Some Asian pear trees survive for more than 50 years.

There are more than 3,000 cultivars of Asian pear, but you won't have quite that many choices when shopping for a tree. As you compare your options, keep in mind that some Asian pear trees can grow 40 feet tall and just as wide. Most, however, reach a height of 10 to 15 feet and a width of 15 to 20 feet if pruned each spring. Select a variety that will fit your yard and your maintenance preferences. You'll need a really long extension ladder to prune and harvest a 40-foot-tall tree, whereas a 10-foot-tall tree may only require a step ladder. 

If your yard has limited space or you want your pears to be easy to pick, choose dwarf Asian pear trees. 'Baby Boomer,' one dwarf variety, is small enough to grow in a container. Or, leverage the fact that Asian pear is a fruit tree that's ideal to espalier, which involves training a tree to grow flat against a wall or trellis. You can do it with dwarf trees or full-size specimens. In addition to saving space, helping you squeeze two cross-pollinating trees into a dinky yard, espalier can boost fruit production. 'Nijisseiki' and 'Shinseiki' are both a good match for this growing technique.

Seeking fruit with a lengthy shelf life? Put 'Olympic Giant' on your list of contenders. Its fruit can last six months in the fridge. So can the fruit of 'Drippin' Honey,' a cultivar known for its generous yields. 'Niitaka,' sometimes called 'Singo,' is another variety that makes oodles of sweet and juicy pears.