Best Pears for Fresh Eating

The 24 varieties in our catalog that scored 8 or higher out of 10 for eating out of hand. Scored on flavor, texture and how well the fruit holds its quality, drawing on published tastings, extension trials and the historical pomologies.

An 8 is Very good on the adapted Beach (1905) grade, a 9 is Very good to best and a 10 is Best. Beach put very good and best in the higher classes, above what he called medium, and that is why the line sits at 8 and why an 8 is hard to get. Varieties that scored 6 or 7 are genuinely good at this too, and you will find them under the matching Shop by Use group. How we rate fruit.

Every score here is sourced, and nothing is on this list on our word alone. The reasoning and every source behind it is in the Best Of research. That is a working document, so if your experience is different, tell us.

More about choosing a dessert pear

The top scores here are 9/10: Bartlett, Seckel, Dana Hovey, Golden Russet Bosc and Stuttgarter Gaishirtle, which is Luke's all-time favorite pear. Everything else scored 8/10, so you're picking between very good pears, and zone and timing matter more than the score.

In zone 2, look at Bolshaya and Krazulya, and Larinskaya is rated to zone 2b. All three need a pollenizer, so plant two of them together. Ure is rated to zone 2b too, and Dana Hovey, Flemish Beauty, Luscious, Nova, Vermont Beauty and Waterville are rated through all of zone 3. Bartlett, Seckel and Clara Frijs are rated to zone 3b. D'Anjou and Golden Russet Bosc are zone 4 pears that do well in western Montana's warmer valleys.

Most pears need a second pear. Concorde and Honeysweet are self-fertile. Bartlett, Seckel, Flemish Beauty, Nova, D'Anjou and Beurré Giffard are partly self-fertile but still do better with a partner. Our pollination maps show which ones bloom together.

To spread the harvest, Beurré Giffard, Ubileen and Stuttgarter Gaishirtle ripen around mid August, Bartlett and Honeysweet in September, and Dana Hovey, Seckel, D'Anjou and Harrow Sweet in early October. The ripening maps lay it out. For pears into winter, Concorde keeps till April in cold storage. You'll find the rest of our pears under pear trees.

Questions we get

Which pears are hardiest for zone 2?

Bolshaya and Krazulya are hardy to zone 2 (-50°F) and Larinskaya to zone 2b (-45°F), and all three scored 8/10 for fresh eating. Each needs a pollenizer, so plant two.

Do I need two pear trees to get fruit?

Usually. Concorde and Honeysweet are self-fertile, a handful more are partly self-fertile, and the rest need a second pear blooming at the same time.

When do pears ripen in Montana?

In Missoula, early dessert pears like Beurré Giffard and Ubileen ripen in mid August. Bartlett comes in September, and Dana Hovey, Seckel and D'Anjou ripen in early October.

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