{"title":"Zone 3 Pear Trees","description":"\u003cp class=\"mft-zone-btn\" style=\"margin:0 0 16px\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/pages\/cold-hardiness-calculator\" title=\"Our zones follow the MFTC Modified Zone Hardiness Scale. Comparing them to USDA averages will give you a discrepancy, so look up where these trees will be planted.\" style=\"display:inline-block;padding:11px 20px;border-radius:4px;background:#3e6b33;color:#fff;text-decoration:none;font-weight:600;line-height:1.3\"\u003eMFTC Zones, Not USDA Averages: Look Up Your Address →\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFourteen pears for zone 3, listed A to Z. The ones rated only to 3b, the warmer half of the zone (-35°F to -30°F), have a 3b tag on them. Everything else is hardy through all of zone 3, down to -40°F.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cdetails class=\"mft-more\"\u003e\u003csummary\u003eMore About Zone 3 Pears\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cp\u003eHardy through all of zone 3: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/cold-snap-pear\"\u003eCold Snap\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dana-hovey-pear\"\u003eDana Hovey\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/flemish-beauty-pear\"\u003eFlemish Beauty\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/frost-pear\"\u003eFrost\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/hudar-pear\"\u003eHudar\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/luscious-pear\"\u003eLuscious\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/nova-pear\"\u003eNova\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/savignac-pear\"\u003eSavignac\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/vermont-beauty-pear\"\u003eVermont Beauty\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"\/products\/waterville-pear\"\u003eWaterville\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRated to 3b, the warmer half: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/bartlett-pear\"\u003eBartlett\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/clara-frijs-pear\"\u003eClara Frijs\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/seckel-pear\"\u003eSeckel\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"\/products\/stuttgarter-gaishirtle-pear\"\u003eStuttgarter Gaishirtle\u003c\/a\u003e. Save these for a 3b site. If you're in the colder half (3a), skip the ones with the 3b tag.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHudar is self-fertile. Flemish Beauty, Nova, Bartlett and Seckel set some fruit alone and more with a partner. The rest need a second variety blooming at the same time. Our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/pear-pollination-map\"\u003epear pollination map\u003c\/a\u003e shows which ones bloom together.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLate bloomers, which give you better odds in a frost pocket: Cold Snap and Clara Frijs. Good keepers: Cold Snap, Dana Hovey and Nova.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOther zones: \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/zone-2-pear-trees\"\u003eZone 2 Pears\u003c\/a\u003e · \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/zone-4-pear-trees\"\u003eZone 4 Pears\u003c\/a\u003e · \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/zone-3-fruit-trees\"\u003eEverything for Zone 3\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mft-faq\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions We Get\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat does zone 3 mean on your scale?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn our MFTC scale, zone 3 means the coldest night you should plan for (the 1-in-30-year low) falls between -40°F and -30°F. Zone 3a runs -40°F to -35°F and zone 3b runs -35°F to -30°F. That is colder than a USDA zone 3, which is built on the average yearly low, so run your address through our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/cold-hardiness-calculator\"\u003ecold hardiness calculator\u003c\/a\u003e instead of going off a USDA map.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eCan I plant the 3b pears in zone 3a?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe don't recommend it. A 3b rating means it has come through -35°F, not the -40°F a cold zone 3a winter can bring. Not sure which half you're in? Our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/cold-hardiness-calculator\"\u003ecold hardiness calculator\u003c\/a\u003e will tell you.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDo I need two pear trees?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNot for Hudar, which is self-fertile. The others do better with a partner.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"bartlett-pear","title":"Bartlett Pear (Spring 2027)","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mft-facts\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt a glance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Bartlett Pear is a pear tree rated hardy to zone 3b in our ratings (winters to -35°F), partially self-fertile, so a second variety nearby makes crops more dependable (bloom group 4 of 7, mid for a European pear), and it ripens about Sep 7 to Sep 21 in Missoula (our Missoula estimate).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"mft-facts-table\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eHardy to\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eZone 3b to 9. The b means the warmer half of zone 3 only (winters to -35°F). Our notes have it taking -41°F. Find your zone with our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/cold-hardiness-calculator\"\u003ecold hardiness calculator\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr class=\"mft-chill\"\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eChill hours\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout 800 hours (500 to 1,500). Published figures disagree, so treat this as a middle estimate. Montana winters give it plenty. In milder climates, make sure your winters average at least this much. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours\"\u003eCheck your chill hours\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours-research#bartlett-pear\"\u003esee our sources\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePollination\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePartially Self-Fertile. Bloom group 4 of 7 (mid), mid spring here. Bartlett sets some fruit alone but crops best with a partner like D'Anjou, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/golden-russett-bosc\"\u003eBosc\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"\/products\/flemish-beauty-pear\"\u003eFlemish Beauty\u003c\/a\u003e. Do not rely on it with \u003ca href=\"\/products\/seckel-pear\"\u003eSeckel\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/red-sensation-bartlett-pear\"\u003eRed Sensation Bartlett\u003c\/a\u003e (the same tree genetically) or \u003ca href=\"\/products\/cold-snap-pear\"\u003eCold Snap\u003c\/a\u003e. Nearby varieties that can boost the crop: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/w0cjbu6yrtjetw48n6ga9edg4vgxoe\"\u003eFlemish Beauty Pear\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/harrow-sweet-pear\"\u003eHarrow Sweet Pear\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/karls-favorite-pear\"\u003eKarl's Favorite Pear\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/danjou-pear\"\u003eD'Anjou Pear\u003c\/a\u003e and 26 more. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/pear-pollination-map\"\u003ePear Pollination Map\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRipens\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout Sep 7 to Sep 21 in Missoula (a Missoula estimate from published sources). Real years swing about a week either way. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/ripening-map\"\u003eSee the date for your town\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRootstock and size\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOHxF 87: semi-dwarf, about 14 to 19 ft tall unpruned. The most precocious OHxF stock. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/rootstocks\"\u003eOur rootstock guide\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eGood for\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCanning and freezing (10\/10), brandy and liqueurs (10\/10), fresh eating (9\/10), drying (9\/10), sauce and butter (8\/10), jams and jellies (7\/10). Scores are our own 1 to 10 ratings; 8 and up makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDeer\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSometimes damaged by deer.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWhat you get\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBare root, 5-7 ft. Regular Grade or 5-7 ft. Shipped or picked up in Missoula in spring, roots wrapped in moist sawdust. Guaranteed to bud out.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eThe most widely grown pear in the world, Bartlett doesn’t need much of an introduction. Its taste has stood the test of time—and its trees have too, at least sometimes. One Bartlett reportedly withstood -41°F in Minnesota, although we think that may have been an anomaly (maybe due to this tree's deep soils and perhaps good airflow). We’ve also seen Bartlett perish in its second year after hitting -38°F in Fortine, MT on 1\/13\/24.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eFlavor, History \u0026amp; Growth Habit\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eFirst grown in 1797, Bartlett’s sweet and juicy flavor has made it a favorite for centuries—especially when left to ripen on the tree, which most commercial Bartletts never get the chance to do. It’s also notoriously fast-growing, which means you won’t be waiting as long for your first harvest compared to other pear varieties.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003ePollination \u0026amp; Site Considerations\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eIf you’re cramped on space, Bartlett is partially self-fertile and can be planted on its own—though, as with most fruit trees, you’ll get more fruit with a partner.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eCold hardy to -35°F, Bartlett should do well in most of the warmer valleys in Western Montana (Missoula, Bitterroot, Flathead, Mission), but it’s probably not hardy enough for Eastern MT.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eTree Details\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eThese trees are grafted onto OHxF87 and are available in several sizes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:12px;color:#777;margin-top:24px\"\u003ePhotos: “Bartlett pear” by Rhododendrites, via \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Bartlett_pear.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eWikimedia Commons\u003c\/a\u003e, licensed \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/4.0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eCC BY-SA 4.0\u003c\/a\u003e; “Williamsbirne durch die Mitte aufgeschnitten” by Staycoolandbegood, via \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Williamsbirne_durch_die_Mitte_aufgeschnitten.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eWikimedia Commons\u003c\/a\u003e, public domain; “Pear Blossom Williams Christ” by El tommo, via \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Pear_Blossom_Williams_Christ.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eWikimedia Commons\u003c\/a\u003e, licensed \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/publicdomain\/zero\/1.0\/deed.en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eCC0\u003c\/a\u003e; “Klostergarten Seligenstadt Williams Christ Pear Tree” by Alexander Klink, via \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Klostergarten_Seligenstadt_Williams_Christ_Pear_Tree.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eWikimedia Commons\u003c\/a\u003e, licensed \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eCC BY 4.0\u003c\/a\u003e; “Organic Bartlett Pears” by Joe Mabel, via \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Organic_Bartlett_Pears.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eWikimedia Commons\u003c\/a\u003e, licensed \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/3.0\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eCC BY-SA 3.0\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mft-faq\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions we get about Bartlett Pear\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDoes Bartlett Pear need a pollenizer?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt helps. Bartlett Pear is partially self-fertile, so it can set some fruit alone, but a second variety nearby makes crops more dependable. Bartlett sets some fruit alone but crops best with a partner like \u003ca href=\"\/products\/danjou-pear\"\u003eD'Anjou\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/golden-russett-bosc\"\u003eBosc\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"\/products\/flemish-beauty-pear\"\u003eFlemish Beauty\u003c\/a\u003e. Do not rely on it with \u003ca href=\"\/products\/seckel-pear\"\u003eSeckel\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/red-sensation-bartlett-pear\"\u003eRed Sensation Bartlett\u003c\/a\u003e (the same tree genetically) or \u003ca href=\"\/products\/cold-snap-pear\"\u003eCold Snap\u003c\/a\u003e. Partners we carry include Flemish Beauty Pear, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/harrow-sweet-pear\"\u003eHarrow Sweet Pear\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/karls-favorite-pear\"\u003eKarl's Favorite Pear\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow cold hardy is Bartlett Pear?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe rate Bartlett Pear hardy to zone 3b, which means winters down to about -35°F. Our notes have it taking -41°F. Our ratings come from real winters at our two Montana sites and from trusted growers across the North, not from a catalog average.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow many chill hours does Bartlett Pear need?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout 800 hours of winter chill (we count hours at or below 45°F), likely somewhere between 500 and 1,500. Published figures for it disagree, so treat that as a middle estimate. Most sources say about 800 hours, but they range from 500 to 1,500. In mild-winter areas bloom can get sparse and drawn out. Our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours\"\u003echill hours guide\u003c\/a\u003e has a calculator for your winters, and our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours-research#bartlett-pear\"\u003eresearch page\u003c\/a\u003e lists the sources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhen does Bartlett Pear ripen?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout Sep 7 to Sep 21 in Missoula, Montana (an estimate built from published sources and our climate). Warmer places run earlier and cooler places later; our ripening map converts the date to your town.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow big does Bartlett Pear get?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe graft Bartlett Pear onto OHxF 87 (semi-dwarf), which makes a tree roughly 14 to 19 ft tall if you never prune it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat is Bartlett Pear good for?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur top use scores for Bartlett Pear are canning and freezing (10\/10), brandy and liqueurs (10\/10), fresh eating (9\/10), drying (9\/10). Anything scored 8 or higher makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill deer eat Bartlett Pear?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSometimes. Deer browse Bartlett Pear now and then, so protect young plants where deer pressure is high.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Montana Fruit Trees","offers":[{"title":"OHxF 87 Semi-Dwarf: 5-7 ft. Regular Grade (Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping)","offer_id":42539489558594,"sku":null,"price":64.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"OHxF 87 Semi-Dwarf: 5-7 ft. (Larger \u0026 More Branching) Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping","offer_id":42539489591362,"sku":null,"price":89.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/bartlett-pear-ripe.jpg?v=1791615017"},{"product_id":"cold-snap-pear","title":"Cold Snap® Pear (Spring 2027)","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mft-facts\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt a glance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Cold Snap® Pear is a pear tree rated hardy to zone 3 in our ratings (winters to -40°F), not self-fertile, so it needs a different variety nearby as a pollenizer (bloom group 5 of 7, mid-late for a European pear), and it ripens about Sep 27 to Oct 10 in Missoula (our Missoula estimate).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"mft-facts-table\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eHardy to\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eZone 3 to 8. A bare number means the whole of zone 3, colder half included (winters to -40°F). Find your zone with our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/cold-hardiness-calculator\"\u003ecold hardiness calculator\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr class=\"mft-chill\"\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eChill hours\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout 800 hours (600 to 1,000). Our estimate. No published figure exists for this variety yet. Montana winters give it plenty. In milder climates, make sure your winters average at least this much. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours\"\u003eCheck your chill hours\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours-research#cold-snap-pear\"\u003esee our sources\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePollination\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNeeds Cross-Pollination. Bloom group 5 of 7 (mid-late), mid spring here. Cold Snap is not self-fertile. Plant it with \u003ca href=\"\/products\/flemish-beauty-pear\"\u003eFlemish Beauty\u003c\/a\u003e or Seckel; Cummins trials found poor fruit set when \u003ca href=\"\/products\/bartlett-pear\"\u003eBartlett\u003c\/a\u003e was the partner. Good partners we carry: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/w0cjbu6yrtjetw48n6ga9edg4vgxoe\"\u003eFlemish Beauty Pear\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/seckel-pear\"\u003eSeckel Pear\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/clapps-favorite-pear\"\u003eClapp's Favorite Pear\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/clara-frijs-pear\"\u003eClara Frijs Pear\u003c\/a\u003e and 16 more. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/pear-pollination-map\"\u003ePear Pollination Map\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRipens\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout Sep 27 to Oct 10 in Missoula (a Missoula estimate from published sources). Real years swing about a week either way. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/ripening-map\"\u003eSee the date for your town\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRootstock and size\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOHxF 87: semi-dwarf, about 14 to 19 ft tall unpruned. The most precocious OHxF stock. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/rootstocks\"\u003eOur rootstock guide\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eGood for\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWinter storage (8\/10), fresh eating (7\/10). Scores are our own 1 to 10 ratings; 8 and up makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDeer\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSometimes damaged by deer.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWhat you get\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBare root, 2-3 ft or 3-5 ft. Shipped or picked up in Missoula in spring, roots wrapped in moist sawdust. Guaranteed to bud out.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eOverview\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eOriginally bred as \u003cem\u003eHarovin Sundown\u003c\/em\u003e in the 1970s by H. A. Quamme, this variety was licensed to the Vineland Innovation and Research Center, which began selling trees in 2015.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eWhy We're Growing Cold Snap\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eAlthough this is our second year growing \u003cem\u003eCold Snap\u003c\/em\u003e, we were enticed by its breeding for Ontario’s cold climate and its strong disease resistance. Hardy down to -40°F, these pears will thrive across much of Montana—except in some of the more brutal areas east of the Divide. If you're in a spot that regularly sees temps colder than -40°F, we recommend going with one of the Russian pears grafted onto Ussurian pear. (We have several of those for Spring 2027, including \u003ca href=\"\/products\/krazulya-pear\"\u003eKrazulya\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/larinskaya-pear\"\u003eLarinskaya\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/krasnobokaya-pear\"\u003eKrasnobokaya\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"\/products\/vekovaya-pear\"\u003eVekovaya\u003c\/a\u003e.)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eRootstock and Tree Sizes\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eThese \u003cem\u003eCold Snap\u003c\/em\u003e pears are grafted onto OHxF87 rootstock, which is also hardy to -40°F to -45°F. Trees come in two sizes (same age but one grew better in the nursery):\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eCurrent-year bare root stock: 2-3 ft. tall\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eCurrent-year bare root stock: 3-5 ft. tall\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mft-faq\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions we get about Cold Snap® Pear\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDoes Cold Snap® Pear need a pollenizer?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. Cold Snap® Pear needs pollen from a different variety that blooms at about the same time. Cold Snap is not self-fertile. Plant it with \u003ca href=\"\/products\/flemish-beauty-pear\"\u003eFlemish Beauty\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"\/products\/seckel-pear\"\u003eSeckel\u003c\/a\u003e; Cummins trials found poor fruit set when \u003ca href=\"\/products\/bartlett-pear\"\u003eBartlett\u003c\/a\u003e was the partner. Partners we carry include Flemish Beauty Pear, Seckel Pear, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/clapps-favorite-pear\"\u003eClapp's Favorite Pear\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow cold hardy is Cold Snap® Pear?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe rate Cold Snap® Pear hardy to zone 3, which means winters down to about -40°F. Our ratings come from real winters at our two Montana sites and from trusted growers across the North, not from a catalog average.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow many chill hours does Cold Snap® Pear need?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout 800 hours of winter chill (we count hours at or below 45°F), likely somewhere between 600 and 1,000. Nobody has published a chill figure for it, so that's our estimate from its relatives and origin. Our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours\"\u003echill hours guide\u003c\/a\u003e has a calculator for your winters, and our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours-research#cold-snap-pear\"\u003eresearch page\u003c\/a\u003e lists the sources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhen does Cold Snap® Pear ripen?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout Sep 27 to Oct 10 in Missoula, Montana (an estimate built from published sources and our climate). Warmer places run earlier and cooler places later; our ripening map converts the date to your town.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow big does Cold Snap® Pear get?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe graft Cold Snap® Pear onto OHxF 87 (semi-dwarf), which makes a tree roughly 14 to 19 ft tall if you never prune it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat is Cold Snap® Pear good for?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur top use scores for Cold Snap® Pear are winter storage (8\/10), fresh eating (7\/10). Anything scored 8 or higher makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill deer eat Cold Snap® Pear?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSometimes. Deer browse Cold Snap® Pear now and then, so protect young plants where deer pressure is high.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Montana Fruit Trees","offers":[{"title":"OHxF 87 Semi-Dwarf: 2-3 ft.","offer_id":45125070782530,"sku":null,"price":34.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"OHxF 87 Semi-Dwarf: 3-5 ft.","offer_id":45125070815298,"sku":null,"price":49.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/cold-snap-pear-on-tree.webp?v=1789019810"},{"product_id":"flemish-beauty-pear","title":"Flemish Beauty Pear (Spring 2027)","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mft-facts\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt a glance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Flemish Beauty Pear is a pear tree rated hardy to zone 3 in our ratings (winters to -40°F), partially self-fertile, so a second variety nearby makes crops more dependable (bloom group 4 of 7, mid for a European pear), and it ripens about Sep 19 to Oct 3 in Missoula (our Missoula estimate).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"mft-facts-table\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eHardy to\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eZone 3 to 8. A bare number means the whole of zone 3, colder half included (winters to -40°F). Find your zone with our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/cold-hardiness-calculator\"\u003ecold hardiness calculator\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr class=\"mft-chill\"\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eChill hours\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout 850 hours (750 to 1,000). Well documented. Independent sources agree. Montana winters give it plenty. In milder climates, make sure your winters average at least this much. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours\"\u003eCheck your chill hours\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours-research#flemish-beauty-pear\"\u003esee our sources\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePollination\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePartially Self-Fertile. Bloom group 4 of 7 (mid), mid spring here. Flemish Beauty is one of the most self-fertile European pears and often crops alone, but a partner such as Bartlett gives bigger, steadier crops. Nearby varieties that can boost the crop: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/bartlett-pear\"\u003eBartlett Pear\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/giffard-pear\"\u003eBeurré Giffard Pear\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dana-hovey-pear\"\u003eDana Hovey Pear\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/honeysweet-pear\"\u003eHoneysweet Pear\u003c\/a\u003e and 29 more. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/pear-pollination-map\"\u003ePear Pollination Map\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRipens\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout Sep 19 to Oct 3 in Missoula (a Missoula estimate from published sources). Real years swing about a week either way. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/ripening-map\"\u003eSee the date for your town\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRootstock and size\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOHxF 87: semi-dwarf, about 14 to 19 ft tall unpruned. The most precocious OHxF stock. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/rootstocks\"\u003eOur rootstock guide\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eGood for\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFresh eating (8\/10), drying (7\/10). Scores are our own 1 to 10 ratings; 8 and up makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDeer\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSometimes damaged by deer.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWhat you get\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBare root, 6-8 ft. Shipped or picked up in Missoula in spring, roots wrapped in moist sawdust. Guaranteed to bud out.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003cp style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eThis variety has been grown on Wildhorse Island in Flathead Lake for over one hundred years. One of the most cold-hardy of all European pears, \u003cem\u003eFlemish Beauty\u003c\/em\u003e performs well in Zone 3 sites (–30°F to –40°F).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eOrigin and Fruit Characteristics\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eA Belgian pear, \u003cem\u003eFlemish Beauty\u003c\/em\u003e is medium to large with a round shape, yellow skin, and an attractive red blush. We mainly eat them fresh, but they’re also great for drying. Some growers have reported fungal issues in wetter climates, though we haven’t experienced any problems here in Montana.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eRootstock and Disease Resistance\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eOur \u003cem\u003eFlemish Beauty\u003c\/em\u003e pears are grafted onto scab- and fireblight-resistant OHxF87 rootstock. That said, it’s still up for debate how much of that disease resistance carries into the scion. Personally, I think the lack of fungal issues here has more to do with our drier climate than anything else.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eTree Structure and Sunlight Tips\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eAs with all fruit trees—but especially pears, and even more so with \u003cem\u003eFlemish Beauty\u003c\/em\u003e—we recommend purchasing limb spreaders. This helps discourage their naturally vertical, pyriform growth. Wider branch angles allow more sunlight to reach into the canopy and can help prevent fungal problems.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eCold Hardiness and Future Options\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eThese pears are hardy to –40°F. If you’re in a spot that sees temps colder than that, then check out our Russian pears (\u003ca href=\"\/products\/larinskaya-pear\"\u003eLarinskaya\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/vekovaya-pear\"\u003eVekovaya\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/krazulya-pear\"\u003eKrazulya\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/bolshaya-pear\"\u003eBolshaya\u003c\/a\u003e). Russian pears and other varieties that can handle down to –50°F.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eTree Sizes Available\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eOur \u003cem\u003eFlemish Beauty\u003c\/em\u003e pears come in multiple sizes, but all are grafted onto OHxF87, which we’ve found to be reliably hardy down to –40°F, and in many cases even –45°F.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:12px;color:#777;margin-top:24px\"\u003ePhotos: “Holzfarbige Butterbirne - Fondante des Bois - Flemish Beauty” by Bahnmoeller, via \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Holzfarbige_Butterbirne_-_Fondante_des_Bois_-_Flemish_Beauty.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eWikimedia Commons\u003c\/a\u003e, licensed \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/3.0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eCC BY-SA 3.0\u003c\/a\u003e, cropped and brightened; “PI 541189 'Flemish Beauty' fruit, 2011 (pyr0225.003.fruit.2011)” by USDA-ARS National Clonal Germplasm Repository, Corvallis (GRIN-Global), via \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/npgsweb.ars-grin.gov\/gringlobal\/accessiondetail?id=1436125\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eUSDA GRIN\u003c\/a\u003e, public domain.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mft-faq\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions we get about Flemish Beauty Pear\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDoes Flemish Beauty Pear need a pollenizer?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt helps. Flemish Beauty Pear is partially self-fertile, so it can set some fruit alone, but a second variety nearby makes crops more dependable. Flemish Beauty is one of the most self-fertile European pears and often crops alone, but a partner such as \u003ca href=\"\/products\/bartlett-pear\"\u003eBartlett\u003c\/a\u003e gives bigger, steadier crops. Partners we carry include Bartlett Pear, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/giffard-pear\"\u003eBeurré Giffard Pear\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dana-hovey-pear\"\u003eDana Hovey Pear\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow cold hardy is Flemish Beauty Pear?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe rate Flemish Beauty Pear hardy to zone 3, which means winters down to about -40°F. Our ratings come from real winters at our two Montana sites and from trusted growers across the North, not from a catalog average.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow many chill hours does Flemish Beauty Pear need?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout 850 hours of winter chill (we count hours at or below 45°F), likely somewhere between 750 and 1,000. That figure is well documented: independent sources agree. That's a bit more than most European pears. Great for cold winters, a poor fit for mild ones. Our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours\"\u003echill hours guide\u003c\/a\u003e has a calculator for your winters, and our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours-research#flemish-beauty-pear\"\u003eresearch page\u003c\/a\u003e lists the sources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhen does Flemish Beauty Pear ripen?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout Sep 19 to Oct 3 in Missoula, Montana (an estimate built from published sources and our climate). Warmer places run earlier and cooler places later; our ripening map converts the date to your town.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow big does Flemish Beauty Pear get?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe graft Flemish Beauty Pear onto OHxF 87 (semi-dwarf), which makes a tree roughly 14 to 19 ft tall if you never prune it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat is Flemish Beauty Pear good for?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur top use scores for Flemish Beauty Pear are fresh eating (8\/10), drying (7\/10). Anything scored 8 or higher makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill deer eat Flemish Beauty Pear?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSometimes. Deer browse Flemish Beauty Pear now and then, so protect young plants where deer pressure is high.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Montana Fruit Trees","offers":[{"title":"OHxF 87 Semi-Dwarf: 6-8 ft. (One Year Older) Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping","offer_id":42539510038594,"sku":null,"price":109.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/flemish-beauty-pears-basket.jpg?v=1791636991"},{"product_id":"hudar-pear","title":"Hudar Pear (Spring 2027)","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mft-facts\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt a glance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Hudar Pear is a pear tree rated hardy to zone 3 in our ratings (winters to -40°F), self-fertile, so one tree can crop (bloom group 4 of 7, mid for a European pear), and it ripens about Aug 10 to Aug 22 in Missoula (picked and dated at our place in Missoula).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"mft-facts-table\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eHardy to\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eZone 3 to 7. A bare number means the whole of zone 3, colder half included (winters to -40°F). Our notes have it taking -50°F. Find your zone with our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/cold-hardiness-calculator\"\u003ecold hardiness calculator\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr class=\"mft-chill\"\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eChill hours\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout 800 hours (600 to 1,100). Our estimate. No published figure exists for this variety yet. Montana winters give it plenty. In milder climates, make sure your winters average at least this much. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours\"\u003eCheck your chill hours\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours-research#hudar-pear\"\u003esee our sources\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePollination\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSelf-Fertile. Bloom group 4 of 7 (mid), mid spring here. Two northern nurseries describe Hudar as self-fruitful, so a single tree should fruit. A second pear such as Nova will still help crops in cold springs. Nearby varieties that can boost the crop: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/nova-pear\"\u003eNova Pear\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/bartlett-pear\"\u003eBartlett Pear\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dana-hovey-pear\"\u003eDana Hovey Pear\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/w0cjbu6yrtjetw48n6ga9edg4vgxoe\"\u003eFlemish Beauty Pear\u003c\/a\u003e and 29 more. Bloom group is our estimate from the variety's origin and relatives. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/pear-pollination-map\"\u003ePear Pollination Map\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRipens\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout Aug 10 to Aug 22 in Missoula (picked and dated off our own trees). Real years swing about a week either way. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/ripening-map\"\u003eSee the date for your town\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRootstock and size\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOHxF87: semi-dwarf, about 14 to 19 ft tall unpruned. The most precocious OHxF stock. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/rootstocks\"\u003eOur rootstock guide\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eGood for\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFresh eating (6\/10), cooking and roasting (6\/10). Scores are our own 1 to 10 ratings; 8 and up makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDeer\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSometimes damaged by deer.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWhat you get\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBare root, 3-4 ft or 4-6 ft or 2-4 ft. Shipped or picked up in Missoula in spring, roots wrapped in moist sawdust. Guaranteed to bud out.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"14\"\u003eOverview\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"15\" data-end=\"316\"\u003eHudar Pear is a cold-climate pear that originated on the Hudar farm in Hammond, New York. Its parentage is not documented (it’s not a named breeding-program cross with known parents), and it has mainly spread through northern grower networks because of its reputation for hardiness and early ripening.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"318\" data-end=\"344\"\u003eFruit Quality \u0026amp; Uses\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"345\" data-end=\"653\"\u003eHudar produces a yellow, juicy fruit that is good for eating and fair for canning. It is considered early ripening pear for cold climates (with timing reported around early September in Southcentral Alaska), and mid August in the Bitterroot Valley of Montana, which is an important trait for short seasons.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"655\" data-end=\"675\"\u003eCold Hardiness\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"676\" data-end=\"890\"\u003eWe have found conflicting reports on Hudar's hardiness. St. Lawrence nursery lists it is hardy to -50F or colder and University of Alaska Fairbanks Extension describes Hudar as \"hardy in Zones 1 and 2 and has survived three winters in Anchorage\", although they may be going off of St. Lawrence's observations for hardiness. This isn't to imply St. Lawrence is wrong, but there is also a \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/sites.google.com\/site\/alaskafruittrees\/home\/pears\"\u003esource\u003c\/a\u003e that says \"\u003cspan class=\"C9DxTc\"\u003eWe have tried \u003ca href=\"\/products\/summercrisp-pear\"\u003eSummercrisp\u003c\/a\u003e, Hudar, Patten, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/nova-pear\"\u003eNova\u003c\/a\u003e \u0026amp; \u003ca href=\"\/products\/ure-pear\"\u003eUre\u003c\/a\u003e - all perished, despite being \"zone 2 or 3\" hardy. Golden Spice seems to be made of tougher stuff. 5 trees made it through 4 winters so far\". \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"676\" data-end=\"890\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"C9DxTc\"\u003eWhat we do know is that Hudar survived -38F in Stevensville, MT from a high pressure air mass that came down from the arctic on 1\/13\/24. What would be helpful to know regarding the Alaska source includes details on location, soils, cultural practices, and when and at what temps the trees perished. We're confident in stating that Hudar in our experience the Bitterroot Valley is that at the minimum, Hudar is a solid zone 3b tree and likely even 3a.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"C9DxTc\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"971\" data-end=\"1379\"\u003ePerformance in even colder interior sites can vary with microclimate, wind exposure, acclimation timing, and rootstock.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"1381\" data-end=\"1416\"\u003eOther Notable Characteristics\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul data-start=\"1417\" data-end=\"1709\"\u003e\n\u003cli data-start=\"1417\" data-end=\"1513\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1419\" data-end=\"1513\"\u003eEarly ripening is a major advantage for cold regions, where many pears fail to mature fruit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-start=\"1514\" data-end=\"1709\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1516\" data-end=\"1709\"\u003ePears in general benefit from well-drained soils and good airflow; in cold valleys, siting on a slope with cold-air drainage can meaningfully improve both winter survival and bloom performance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mft-faq\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions we get about Hudar Pear\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDoes Hudar Pear need a pollenizer?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. Hudar Pear is self-fertile, so a single tree can set fruit. Two northern nurseries describe Hudar as self-fruitful, so a single tree should fruit. A second pear such as \u003ca href=\"\/products\/nova-pear\"\u003eNova\u003c\/a\u003e will still help crops in cold springs. Partners we carry include Nova Pear, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/bartlett-pear\"\u003eBartlett Pear\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dana-hovey-pear\"\u003eDana Hovey Pear\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow cold hardy is Hudar Pear?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe rate Hudar Pear hardy to zone 3, which means winters down to about -40°F. Our notes have it taking -50°F. Our ratings come from real winters at our two Montana sites and from trusted growers across the North, not from a catalog average.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow many chill hours does Hudar Pear need?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout 800 hours of winter chill (we count hours at or below 45°F), likely somewhere between 600 and 1,100. Nobody has published a chill figure for it, so that's our estimate from its relatives and origin. Our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours\"\u003echill hours guide\u003c\/a\u003e has a calculator for your winters, and our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours-research#hudar-pear\"\u003eresearch page\u003c\/a\u003e lists the sources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhen does Hudar Pear ripen?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout Aug 10 to Aug 22 in Missoula, Montana (picked and dated off our own trees). Warmer places run earlier and cooler places later; our ripening map converts the date to your town.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow big does Hudar Pear get?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe graft Hudar Pear onto OHxF87 (semi-dwarf), which makes a tree roughly 14 to 19 ft tall if you never prune it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat is Hudar Pear good for?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur top use scores for Hudar Pear are fresh eating (6\/10), cooking and roasting (6\/10).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill deer eat Hudar Pear?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSometimes. Deer browse Hudar Pear now and then, so protect young plants where deer pressure is high.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Montana Fruit Trees","offers":[{"title":"OHxF87 Semi-Dwarf: 3-4 ft.","offer_id":42499237380162,"sku":null,"price":44.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"OHxF87 Semi-Dwarf: 4-6 ft.","offer_id":45133531578434,"sku":null,"price":59.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"OHxF87 Semi-Dwarf: 2-4 ft. (One Year Older) Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping","offer_id":45133531611202,"sku":null,"price":49.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"OHxF87 Semi-Dwarf: 4-6 ft. (One Year Older) Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping","offer_id":45133531643970,"sku":null,"price":74.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/hudar-pear-on-tree.jpg?v=1789020347"},{"product_id":"stuttgarter-gaishirtle-pear","title":"Stuttgarter Gaishirtle Pear (Spring 2027)","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mft-facts\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt a glance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Stuttgarter Gaishirtle Pear is a pear tree rated hardy to zone 3b in our ratings (winters to -35°F), not self-fertile, so it needs a different variety nearby as a pollenizer (bloom group 3 of 7, early-mid for a European pear), and it ripens about Aug 12 to Aug 22 in Missoula (picked and dated at our place in Missoula).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"mft-facts-table\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eHardy to\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eZone 3b to 8. The b means the warmer half of zone 3 only (winters to -35°F). Find your zone with our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/cold-hardiness-calculator\"\u003ecold hardiness calculator\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr class=\"mft-chill\"\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eChill hours\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout 800 hours (600 to 1,100). Our estimate. No published figure exists for this variety yet. Montana winters give it plenty. In milder climates, make sure your winters average at least this much. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours\"\u003eCheck your chill hours\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours-research#stuttgarter-gaishirtle-pear\"\u003esee our sources\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePollination\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNeeds Cross-Pollination. Bloom group 3 of 7 (early-mid), mid spring here. Stuttgarter Gaishirtle needs a pollenizer. Its bloom is early and long, and German sources name Bartlett (Williams) and \u003ca href=\"\/products\/clapps-favorite-pear\"\u003eClapp's Favorite\u003c\/a\u003e as good partners. Good partners we carry: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/bartlett-pear\"\u003eBartlett Pear\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/danjou-pear\"\u003eD'Anjou Pear\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/summercrisp-pear\"\u003eSummercrisp Pear\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/ure-pear\"\u003eUre Pear\u003c\/a\u003e and 25 more. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/pear-pollination-map\"\u003ePear Pollination Map\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRipens\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout Aug 12 to Aug 22 in Missoula (picked and dated off our own trees). Real years swing about a week either way. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/ripening-map\"\u003eSee the date for your town\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRootstock and size\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOHxF 87: semi-dwarf, about 14 to 19 ft tall unpruned. The most precocious OHxF stock. Pyrus communis: full size, about 18 to 25 ft tall unpruned. European pear seedling. OHxF 333: semi-dwarf, about 12 to 18 ft tall unpruned. Resists fire blight and pear decline. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/rootstocks\"\u003eOur rootstock guide\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eGood for\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFresh eating (9\/10), drying (8\/10), cooking and roasting (6\/10), jams and jellies (6\/10). Scores are our own 1 to 10 ratings; 8 and up makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDeer\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSometimes damaged by deer.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWhat you get\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBare root, Semi-Dwarf: 3-5 ft or 3-5 ft or Semi-Dwarf: 5-7 ft. Shipped or picked up in Missoula in spring, roots wrapped in moist sawdust. Guaranteed to bud out.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eOverview\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStuttgarter Gaishirtle (also known as Geishirtl or Geishirtli) is Rod McIver and Luke Robinson’s all-time favorite pear. It is a versatile heirloom discovered around 1750 near Stuttgart, Germany, by a goatherd. Its name translates loosely to “little goatherd from Stuttgart.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHistory \u0026amp; Uses\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGaishirtle has long been prized for its versatility, valued both fresh at the table and for preservation. Some sources list it as a really good pear for drying, which I can't believe because they would all be eaten fresh by the time there is any left for drying. One drawback is that it does not have a long shelf life at all. Maybe week or two tops.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDried Gaishirtle pears are a traditional ingredient in Hutzelbrot, a classic German fruit bread, often made alongside dried plums. Because the fruit contains less tannic acid and juice than many traditional perry pears, it is generally considered less suitable for cider production.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFruit Quality \u0026amp; Ripening\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe fruit ripens in Western Montana typically between the third and fourth week of August (the photo for this description was taken August 25th in Kalispell, MT). Flavor is excellent when fully ripe, with qualities that apparently carry particularly well through drying and preservation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCold Hardiness\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGaishirtle is hardy to approximately −35°F. It is unknown whether it can reliably survive colder temperatures, and we err on the side of caution when rating its hardiness. Notably, a long-lived tree survived for decades in a cold Zone 4 area of Kalispell, Montana, before being lost to a windstorm in 2024. If you are in much of eastern MT where temps can drop below -35F, steer clear of Gaishirtle and instead opt for one of our Russian pears.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eOther Notable Characteristics\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a pear with deep cultural and historical roots, valued as much for tradition and preservation as for fresh eating. Its combination of flavor, history, and adaptability make it a standout choice for growers interested in classic European pears with proven performance in fairly cold climates. Take it for what it’s worth, this pear has an incredible flavor. “The best pear I’ve had when picked ripe (when it is ready) off the tree.” - Luke\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mft-faq\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions we get about Stuttgarter Gaishirtle Pear\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDoes Stuttgarter Gaishirtle Pear need a pollenizer?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. Stuttgarter Gaishirtle Pear needs pollen from a different variety that blooms at about the same time. Stuttgarter Gaishirtle needs a pollenizer. Its bloom is early and long, and German sources name \u003ca href=\"\/products\/bartlett-pear\"\u003eBartlett\u003c\/a\u003e (Williams) and \u003ca href=\"\/products\/clapps-favorite-pear\"\u003eClapp's Favorite\u003c\/a\u003e as good partners. Partners we carry include Bartlett Pear, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/danjou-pear\"\u003eD'Anjou Pear\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/summercrisp-pear\"\u003eSummercrisp Pear\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow cold hardy is Stuttgarter Gaishirtle Pear?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe rate Stuttgarter Gaishirtle Pear hardy to zone 3b, which means winters down to about -35°F. Our ratings come from real winters at our two Montana sites and from trusted growers across the North, not from a catalog average.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow many chill hours does Stuttgarter Gaishirtle Pear need?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout 800 hours of winter chill (we count hours at or below 45°F), likely somewhere between 600 and 1,100. Nobody has published a chill figure for it, so that's our estimate from its relatives and origin. Our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours\"\u003echill hours guide\u003c\/a\u003e has a calculator for your winters, and our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours-research#stuttgarter-gaishirtle-pear\"\u003eresearch page\u003c\/a\u003e lists the sources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhen does Stuttgarter Gaishirtle Pear ripen?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout Aug 12 to Aug 22 in Missoula, Montana (picked and dated off our own trees). Warmer places run earlier and cooler places later; our ripening map converts the date to your town.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow big does Stuttgarter Gaishirtle Pear get?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe graft Stuttgarter Gaishirtle Pear onto OHxF 87 (semi-dwarf), which makes a tree roughly 14 to 19 ft tall if you never prune it. Some sizes are on Pyrus communis, OHxF 333.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat is Stuttgarter Gaishirtle Pear good for?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur top use scores for Stuttgarter Gaishirtle Pear are fresh eating (9\/10), drying (8\/10), cooking and roasting (6\/10), jams and jellies (6\/10). Anything scored 8 or higher makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill deer eat Stuttgarter Gaishirtle Pear?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSometimes. Deer browse Stuttgarter Gaishirtle Pear now and then, so protect young plants where deer pressure is high.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Montana Fruit Trees","offers":[{"title":"OHxF 87: Semi-Dwarf: 3-5 ft.","offer_id":45133897138242,"sku":null,"price":49.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Pyrus communis Full Size: 3-5 ft. (One Year Older)","offer_id":42504999403586,"sku":null,"price":59.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"OHxF 333 Semi-Dwarf: 3-5 ft. (1 Year Older)","offer_id":45133897203778,"sku":null,"price":59.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"OHxF 87: Semi-Dwarf: 5-7 ft. (Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping)","offer_id":45133897171010,"sku":null,"price":69.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/stuttgarter-gaishirtle-pear-on-tree.jpg?v=1789021109"},{"product_id":"nova-pear","title":"Nova Pear (Spring 2027)","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mft-facts\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt a glance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Nova Pear is a pear tree rated hardy to zone 3 in our ratings (winters to -40°F), partially self-fertile, so a second variety nearby makes crops more dependable (bloom group 4 of 7, mid for a European pear), and it ripens about Sep 11 to Sep 21 in Missoula (picked and dated at our place in Missoula).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"mft-facts-table\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eHardy to\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eZone 3 to 8. A bare number means the whole of zone 3, colder half included (winters to -40°F). Find your zone with our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/cold-hardiness-calculator\"\u003ecold hardiness calculator\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr class=\"mft-chill\"\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eChill hours\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout 800 hours (600 to 1,100). Our estimate. No published figure exists for this variety yet. Montana winters give it plenty. In milder climates, make sure your winters average at least this much. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours\"\u003eCheck your chill hours\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours-research#nova-pear\"\u003esee our sources\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePollination\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePartially Self-Fertile. Bloom group 4 of 7 (mid), mid spring here. Nova's introducer calls it self-fertile, but other growers hedge, so plant a second pear for dependable crops. \u003ca href=\"\/products\/flemish-beauty-pear\"\u003eFlemish Beauty\u003c\/a\u003e, Hudar or Ure are good partners. Nearby varieties that can boost the crop: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/w0cjbu6yrtjetw48n6ga9edg4vgxoe\"\u003eFlemish Beauty Pear\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/hudar-pear\"\u003eHudar Pear\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/ure-pear\"\u003eUre Pear\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/bartlett-pear\"\u003eBartlett Pear\u003c\/a\u003e and 29 more. Bloom group is our estimate from the variety's origin and relatives. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/pear-pollination-map\"\u003ePear Pollination Map\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRipens\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout Sep 11 to Sep 21 in Missoula (picked and dated off our own trees). Real years swing about a week either way. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/ripening-map\"\u003eSee the date for your town\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRootstock and size\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOHxF87: semi-dwarf, about 14 to 19 ft tall unpruned. The most precocious OHxF stock. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/rootstocks\"\u003eOur rootstock guide\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eGood for\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFresh eating (8\/10), cooking and roasting (6\/10), winter storage (6\/10). Scores are our own 1 to 10 ratings; 8 and up makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDeer\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSometimes damaged by deer.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWhat you get\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBare root, 3-5 ft or 5-7 ft. Shipped or picked up in Missoula in spring, roots wrapped in moist sawdust. Guaranteed to bud out.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"286\" data-end=\"300\"\u003eOverview\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"301\" data-end=\"592\"\u003eNova is a decently cold-hardy European pear introduced through St. Lawrence Nurseries and is widely regarded as one of the better fresh-eating pears available for colder climates. It is valued for its excellent fruit quality, precocity, and reliable performance where many dessert pears struggle.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"594\" data-end=\"619\"\u003eHistory \u0026amp; Parentage\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"620\" data-end=\"902\"\u003eNova was introduced by St. Lawrence Nurseries and named by Bill MacKentley after his daughter, Nova. While the exact parentage is not formally documented in published breeding records, Nova has long circulated in cold-climate nursery trade based on performance rather than pedigree.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"904\" data-end=\"930\"\u003eFruit Quality \u0026amp; Uses\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"931\" data-end=\"1395\"\u003eNova produces large, round pears with melting, juicy flesh and good to excellent eating quality. It is considered among the best fresh-eating pears for cold regions. The fruit may be used either green or fully ripe, offering flexibility in harvest timing. Pears hang well on the tree and ripen around mid-September in the Bitterroot Valley, developing a yellow skin as they mature. Nova is also suitable for kitchen use, though it is primarily valued as a dessert pear.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"1397\" data-end=\"1425\"\u003eGrowth Habit \u0026amp; Spacing\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1426\" data-end=\"1764\"\u003eTrees are described as low vigor, spreading, and precocious, making them well suited to smaller plantings and easier long-term management. Standard pear spacing applies depending on rootstock, but 15–20 ft is a practical range for semi-dwarf to standard systems, with wider spacing improving airflow and light penetration.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"1766\" data-end=\"1783\"\u003ePollination\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1784\" data-end=\"2102\"\u003eNova is often described as self-fruitful, which is somewhat uncommon among European pears. Even so, fruit set and consistency are typically improved when planted with another pear that overlaps bloom. \u003ca href=\"\/products\/hudar-pear\"\u003eHudar\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/ure-pear\"\u003eUre\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/flemish-beauty-pear\"\u003eFlemish Beauty\u003c\/a\u003e, Golden Spice, or any of the Russian pairs would serve well as a pollenizer for Nova. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"2104\" data-end=\"2124\"\u003eCold Hardiness\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2125\" data-end=\"2514\"\u003eSome list Nova as a zone 2 pear, although it is more likely zone3. We have obrserved Nova survive at -38F in Stevensville, MT without any winter injury and situated in a lower spot where frost settles more readily. That said, growers in Fairbanks have not had good success with Nova. Could work in eastern MT with appropriate site selection and frost drainage, but if your areas consistently drops below -40F, stick with the Russian varieties.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mft-faq\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions we get about Nova Pear\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDoes Nova Pear need a pollenizer?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt helps. Nova Pear is partially self-fertile, so it can set some fruit alone, but a second variety nearby makes crops more dependable. Nova's introducer calls it self-fertile, but other growers hedge, so plant a second pear for dependable crops. \u003ca href=\"\/products\/flemish-beauty-pear\"\u003eFlemish Beauty\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/hudar-pear\"\u003eHudar\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"\/products\/ure-pear\"\u003eUre\u003c\/a\u003e are good partners. Partners we carry include Flemish Beauty Pear, Hudar Pear, Ure Pear.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow cold hardy is Nova Pear?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe rate Nova Pear hardy to zone 3, which means winters down to about -40°F. Our ratings come from real winters at our two Montana sites and from trusted growers across the North, not from a catalog average.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow many chill hours does Nova Pear need?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout 800 hours of winter chill (we count hours at or below 45°F), likely somewhere between 600 and 1,100. Nobody has published a chill figure for it, so that's our estimate from its relatives and origin. Our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours\"\u003echill hours guide\u003c\/a\u003e has a calculator for your winters, and our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours-research#nova-pear\"\u003eresearch page\u003c\/a\u003e lists the sources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhen does Nova Pear ripen?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout Sep 11 to Sep 21 in Missoula, Montana (picked and dated off our own trees). Warmer places run earlier and cooler places later; our ripening map converts the date to your town.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow big does Nova Pear get?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe graft Nova Pear onto OHxF87 (semi-dwarf), which makes a tree roughly 14 to 19 ft tall if you never prune it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat is Nova Pear good for?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur top use scores for Nova Pear are fresh eating (8\/10), cooking and roasting (6\/10), winter storage (6\/10). Anything scored 8 or higher makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill deer eat Nova Pear?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSometimes. Deer browse Nova Pear now and then, so protect young plants where deer pressure is high.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Montana Fruit Trees","offers":[{"title":"OHxF87 Semi-Dwarf: 3-5 ft.","offer_id":45134310178882,"sku":null,"price":49.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"OHxF87 Semi-Dwarf: 3-5 ft. (One Year Older)","offer_id":45134310244418,"sku":null,"price":59.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"OHxF87 Semi-Dwarf: 5-7 ft.","offer_id":45134310211650,"sku":null,"price":69.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"OHxF87 Semi-Dwarf: 5-7 ft. (One Year Older)","offer_id":42503112065090,"sku":null,"price":89.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/nova-pear-on-tree.jpg?v=1789020680"},{"product_id":"waterville-pear","title":"Waterville Pear (Spring 2027)","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mft-facts\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt a glance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Waterville Pear is a pear tree rated hardy to zone 3 in our ratings (winters to -40°F), not self-fertile, so it needs a different variety nearby as a pollenizer (bloom group 4 of 7, mid for a European pear), and it ripens about Sep 15 to Sep 27 in Missoula (picked and dated at our place in Missoula).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"mft-facts-table\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eHardy to\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eZone 3 to 8. A bare number means the whole of zone 3, colder half included (winters to -40°F). Find your zone with our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/cold-hardiness-calculator\"\u003ecold hardiness calculator\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr class=\"mft-chill\"\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eChill hours\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout 800 hours (600 to 1,100). Our estimate. No published figure exists for this variety yet. Montana winters give it plenty. In milder climates, make sure your winters average at least this much. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours\"\u003eCheck your chill hours\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours-research#waterville-pear\"\u003esee our sources\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePollination\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNeeds Cross-Pollination. Bloom group 4 of 7 (mid), mid spring here. Waterville is not self-fertile. Bartlett, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/flemish-beauty-pear\"\u003eFlemish Beauty\u003c\/a\u003e, Karl's Favorite or Seckel make good partners, but do not rely on Bartlett and Seckel to pollenize each other. Good partners we carry: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/bartlett-pear\"\u003eBartlett Pear\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/w0cjbu6yrtjetw48n6ga9edg4vgxoe\"\u003eFlemish Beauty Pear\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/seckel-pear\"\u003eSeckel Pear\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/karls-favorite-pear\"\u003eKarl's Favorite Pear\u003c\/a\u003e and 29 more. Bloom group is our estimate from the variety's origin and relatives. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/pear-pollination-map\"\u003ePear Pollination Map\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRipens\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout Sep 15 to Sep 27 in Missoula (picked and dated off our own trees). Real years swing about a week either way. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/ripening-map\"\u003eSee the date for your town\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRootstock and size\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOHxF 87: semi-dwarf, about 14 to 19 ft tall unpruned. The most precocious OHxF stock. Pyrus communis: full size, about 18 to 25 ft tall unpruned. European pear seedling. Plant about 20 ft apart. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/rootstocks\"\u003eOur rootstock guide\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eGood for\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFresh eating (8\/10). Scores are our own 1 to 10 ratings; 8 and up makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDeer\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSometimes damaged by deer.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWhat you get\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBare root, 2-4 ft or 4-6 ft or 3-5 ft or 5-7 ft. Shipped or picked up in Missoula in spring, roots wrapped in moist sawdust. Guaranteed to bud out.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eOverview\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWaterville is a fairly cold-climated adapted European pear (\u003cem\u003ePyrus communis\u003c\/em\u003e) originally associated with Waterville, Vermont, known for producing large, very juicy fruit with notably sweet flavor and a bit of classic “European pear” texture (slightly coarse).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eOrigin and History\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWaterville is a\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003elocal Vermont pear—discovered\/rediscovered in Waterville, VT and then introduced more widely through Elmore Roots Nursery. Parentage is not documented in the sources describing the variety.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFruit \u0026amp; Uses\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFruit size \u0026amp; texture:\u003c\/strong\u003e Large; very juicy; sweet; often described as slightly coarse-textured (not uncommon in hardy dessert pears).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFlavor:\u003c\/strong\u003e Sweet, good dessert quality.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeason:\u003c\/strong\u003e The pears come on mid-late September in the Bitterroot Valley, MT.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUses:\u003c\/strong\u003e Fresh eating, but also noted as good in tarts, although we never tried Waterville in a tart.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eGrowth Habit\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWaterville is very vigorous and benefits from training\/spreading limbs early rather than heavy pruning right out of the gate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSpacing\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur 2027 Waterville pears are grafted onto standard, Pyrus communis rootstock (these are actually one year older as they were grafted in 2025 and grew out for two years), are full vigor, and should be spaced about 20 ft. apart. We also have Waterville pears that we bench grafted onto OHxF 87 semi-dwarf (75% standard) in Spring 2026. OHxF will be less vigorous than P. communis and can be planted 15 ft. apart. Can be spaced closer for a more rigorous pruning regiment or further apart in a less managed situation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePollination\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLike most pears, Waterville is not self-fertile and needs a pollenzer, i.e. another variety for pollination.Examples of what we offer that will serve as a pollination partner include \u003ca href=\"\/products\/bartlett-pear\"\u003eBartlett\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/flemish-beauty-pear\"\u003eFlemish Beauty\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/karls-favorite-pear\"\u003eKarl's Favorite\u003c\/a\u003e, Johantorp, and \u003ca href=\"\/products\/seckel-pear\"\u003eSeckel\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCold hardiness\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn our experience in Montana, Waterville pear has been surviving in a fairly cold spot in the Bitterroot—particularly Stevensville, MT—and the tree experienced -38°F on 1\/13\/24 without showing any signs of winter injury. It very well may survive colder than -40°F, but we simply do not have that data yet. As such, we are listing Waterville as a solid Zone 3a pear based on our experience in Montana.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mft-faq\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions we get about Waterville Pear\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDoes Waterville Pear need a pollenizer?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. Waterville Pear needs pollen from a different variety that blooms at about the same time. Waterville is not self-fertile. \u003ca href=\"\/products\/bartlett-pear\"\u003eBartlett\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/flemish-beauty-pear\"\u003eFlemish Beauty\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/karls-favorite-pear\"\u003eKarl's Favorite\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"\/products\/seckel-pear\"\u003eSeckel\u003c\/a\u003e make good partners, but do not rely on Bartlett and Seckel to pollenize each other. Partners we carry include Bartlett Pear, Flemish Beauty Pear, Seckel Pear.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow cold hardy is Waterville Pear?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe rate Waterville Pear hardy to zone 3, which means winters down to about -40°F. Our ratings come from real winters at our two Montana sites and from trusted growers across the North, not from a catalog average.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow many chill hours does Waterville Pear need?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout 800 hours of winter chill (we count hours at or below 45°F), likely somewhere between 600 and 1,100. Nobody has published a chill figure for it, so that's our estimate from its relatives and origin. Our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours\"\u003echill hours guide\u003c\/a\u003e has a calculator for your winters, and our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours-research#waterville-pear\"\u003eresearch page\u003c\/a\u003e lists the sources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhen does Waterville Pear ripen?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout Sep 15 to Sep 27 in Missoula, Montana (picked and dated off our own trees). Warmer places run earlier and cooler places later; our ripening map converts the date to your town.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow big does Waterville Pear get?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe graft Waterville Pear onto OHxF 87 (semi-dwarf), which makes a tree roughly 14 to 19 ft tall if you never prune it. Some sizes are on Pyrus communis. Plant about 20 ft apart.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat is Waterville Pear good for?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur top use scores for Waterville Pear are fresh eating (8\/10). Anything scored 8 or higher makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill deer eat Waterville Pear?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSometimes. Deer browse Waterville Pear now and then, so protect young plants where deer pressure is high.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Montana Fruit Trees","offers":[{"title":"OHxF 87 Semi-Dwarf: 2-4 ft.","offer_id":45144067506242,"sku":null,"price":39.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"OHxF 87 Semi-Dwarf: 4-6 ft.","offer_id":45144067539010,"sku":null,"price":59.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Pyrus communis Full Size: 3-5 ft. (One Year Older)","offer_id":42511158607938,"sku":null,"price":59.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Pyrus communis Full Size: 5-7 ft. (One Year Older) Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping","offer_id":45144067571778,"sku":null,"price":89.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/waterville-pear-in-hand.jpg?v=1789021309"},{"product_id":"savignac-pear","title":"Savignac Pear (Spring 2027)","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mft-facts\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt a glance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Savignac Pear is a pear tree rated hardy to zone 3 in our ratings (winters to -40°F), not self-fertile, so it needs a different variety nearby as a pollenizer (bloom group 3 of 7, early-mid for a European pear), and it ripens about Sep 15 to Sep 23 in Missoula (our Missoula estimate).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"mft-facts-table\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eHardy to\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eZone 3 to 8. A bare number means the whole of zone 3, colder half included (winters to -40°F). Our notes have it taking -38°F. Find your zone with our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/cold-hardiness-calculator\"\u003ecold hardiness calculator\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr class=\"mft-chill\"\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eChill hours\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout 800 hours (600 to 1,100). Our estimate. No published figure exists for this variety yet. Montana winters give it plenty. In milder climates, make sure your winters average at least this much. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours\"\u003eCheck your chill hours\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours-research#savignac-pear\"\u003esee our sources\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePollination\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNeeds Cross-Pollination. Bloom group 3 of 7 (early-mid), mid spring here. Savignac needs another pear to fruit. Ure is the partner its Quebec nursery recommends, and Summercrisp should overlap as well. Good partners we carry: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/ure-pear\"\u003eUre Pear\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/danjou-pear\"\u003eD'Anjou Pear\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/stuttgarter-gaishirtle-pear\"\u003eStuttgarter Gaishirtle Pear\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/summercrisp-pear\"\u003eSummercrisp Pear\u003c\/a\u003e and 25 more. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/pear-pollination-map\"\u003ePear Pollination Map\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRipens\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout Sep 15 to Sep 23 in Missoula (a Missoula estimate from published sources). Real years swing about a week either way. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/ripening-map\"\u003eSee the date for your town\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRootstock and size\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOHxF 87: semi-dwarf, about 14 to 19 ft tall unpruned. The most precocious OHxF stock. Plant 18 to 22 ft apart. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/rootstocks\"\u003eOur rootstock guide\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eGood for\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFresh eating (7\/10). Scores are our own 1 to 10 ratings; 8 and up makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDeer\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSometimes damaged by deer.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWhat you get\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBare root, 3-4 ft or 2-4 ft or 4-6 ft. Shipped or picked up in Missoula in spring, roots wrapped in moist sawdust. Guaranteed to bud out.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"12\"\u003eOverview\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"13\" data-end=\"319\"\u003eSavignac is a decently cold climate adapted European pear (Pyrus communis) selected in Québec, grown for reliable cropping and genuinely good fresh-eating quality in short-season climates. The fruit is typically sweet, juicy, and aromatic, and it performs best when harvested firm and finished (ripened) off the tree.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"321\" data-end=\"341\"\u003eOrigin \u0026amp; History\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"342\" data-end=\"660\"\u003eSavignac is reported as having been found\/selected in Québec (often specified as Abbé Savignac, Abitibi). Parentage has not been reliably published in accessible primary references (it is generally treated as a chance seedling\/selection rather than a documented cross), so we are not assigning a cross or parents here.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"662\" data-end=\"678\"\u003eFruit \u0026amp; Uses\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"679\" data-end=\"1103\"\u003eSavignac is a small-to-medium, rounder pear with green to green-yellow skin and white flesh, notable for sweetness, juiciness, aroma, and relatively low grit. It is best picked while still firm\/green and ripened on the counter for peak texture and flavor. In addition to fresh eating, it works well for cooking and preserves, but it is generally a shorter-keeper (think weeks, not months).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"1105\" data-end=\"1121\"\u003eGrowth Habit \u0026amp; Spacing\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1122\" data-end=\"1394\"\u003eSavignac is vigorous, productive, and generally “grower-friendly.” Some growers note a spreading tendency and low-to-medium vigor depending on site, rootstock, and training, but the consistent theme is that it bears and produces reliably for a hardy pear.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1566\" data-end=\"1972\"\u003eWe currently offers Savignac on Pyrus communis full-size rootstock. For full-size European pear rootstock, a practical baseline is 18–22 feet between trees, with the tighter end achievable only if you plan to prune annually and keep the canopy narrow. If you intend minimal pruning and have richer soils or irrigation, plan closer to the wider end. A person could go even tighter than 18 ft. and prune annually, although areas that have longer growing season, deeper soils, etc., may need to do Spring and Summer pruning on P. communis rootstock for spacing tighter than 18 ft. apart.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"1974\" data-end=\"2230\"\u003ePollination \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2231\" data-end=\"3171\"\u003eLike most pears, Savignac is not self-fertile and needs a pollenizer. It is a European pear in the communis pollination group, meaning it should be paired with another European pear. Partners for Savignac that we offer include \u003ca href=\"\/products\/flemish-beauty-pear\"\u003eFlemish Beauty\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/nova-pear\"\u003eNova\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/giffard-pear\"\u003eGiffard\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/seckel-pear\"\u003eSeckel\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/bartlett-pear\"\u003eBartlett\u003c\/a\u003e, and \u003ca href=\"\/products\/stuttgarter-gaishirtle-pear\"\u003eStuttgarter Gaishirtle\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"3173\" data-end=\"3325\"\u003eCold Hardiness \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"3326\" data-end=\"3714\"\u003eSavignac is consistently treated as a hardy pear in cold-climate circles (commonly placed around zone 3b and sometimes discussed as zone 2 class by growers). In terms of our experience, it has survived -38F in Stevensville, MT from an arctic blast on 1\/13\/24 without sustaining any winter injury. As such we are listing it as hardy to zone 3a until we have more data to confirm it surviving colder temps.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"3716\" data-end=\"3827\"\u003eOther Notes\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"3828\" data-end=\"4394\"\u003eSavignac is a “pick firm, ripen off-tree” pear: harvesting it while still green\/firm and allowing it to finish on the counter is the way to get its best eating quality. Savignac is also repeatedly described as disease-resistant in nursery and grower write-ups; however, those sources typically do not specify which diseases or provide trial data, so we are keeping that claim general rather than naming specific resistances without published evidence.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mft-faq\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions we get about Savignac Pear\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDoes Savignac Pear need a pollenizer?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. Savignac Pear needs pollen from a different variety that blooms at about the same time. Savignac needs another pear to fruit. \u003ca href=\"\/products\/ure-pear\"\u003eUre\u003c\/a\u003e is the partner its Quebec nursery recommends, and \u003ca href=\"\/products\/summercrisp-pear\"\u003eSummercrisp\u003c\/a\u003e should overlap as well. Partners we carry include Ure Pear, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/danjou-pear\"\u003eD'Anjou Pear\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/stuttgarter-gaishirtle-pear\"\u003eStuttgarter Gaishirtle Pear\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow cold hardy is Savignac Pear?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe rate Savignac Pear hardy to zone 3, which means winters down to about -40°F. Our notes have it taking -38°F. Our ratings come from real winters at our two Montana sites and from trusted growers across the North, not from a catalog average.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow many chill hours does Savignac Pear need?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout 800 hours of winter chill (we count hours at or below 45°F), likely somewhere between 600 and 1,100. Nobody has published a chill figure for it, so that's our estimate from its relatives and origin. Our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours\"\u003echill hours guide\u003c\/a\u003e has a calculator for your winters, and our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours-research#savignac-pear\"\u003eresearch page\u003c\/a\u003e lists the sources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhen does Savignac Pear ripen?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout Sep 15 to Sep 23 in Missoula, Montana (an estimate built from published sources and our climate). Warmer places run earlier and cooler places later; our ripening map converts the date to your town.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow big does Savignac Pear get?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe graft Savignac Pear onto OHxF 87 (semi-dwarf), which makes a tree roughly 14 to 19 ft tall if you never prune it. Plant 18 to 22 ft apart.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat is Savignac Pear good for?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur top use scores for Savignac Pear are fresh eating (7\/10).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill deer eat Savignac Pear?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSometimes. Deer browse Savignac Pear now and then, so protect young plants where deer pressure is high.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Montana Fruit Trees","offers":[{"title":"OHxF 87 Semi-Dwarf: 3-4 ft.","offer_id":45134553940034,"sku":null,"price":44.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"OHxF 87 Semi-Dwarf: 2-4 ft. (One Year Older)","offer_id":42504543305794,"sku":null,"price":49.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"OHxF 87 Semi-Dwarf: 4-6 ft. (Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping)","offer_id":45134553972802,"sku":null,"price":59.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"OHxF 87 Semi-Dwarf: 4-6 ft. (One Year Older) Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping","offer_id":45134554005570,"sku":null,"price":74.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/savignac-pear-on-tree.jpg?v=1789021038"},{"product_id":"seckel-pear","title":"Seckel Pear (Spring 2027)","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mft-facts\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt a glance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Seckel Pear is a pear tree rated hardy to zone 3b in our ratings (winters to -35°F), partially self-fertile, so a second variety nearby makes crops more dependable (bloom group 4 of 7, mid for a European pear), and it ripens about Sep 30 to Oct 6 in Missoula (picked and dated at our place in Missoula).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"mft-facts-table\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eHardy to\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eZone 3b to 8. The b means the warmer half of zone 3 only (winters to -35°F). Find your zone with our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/cold-hardiness-calculator\"\u003ecold hardiness calculator\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr class=\"mft-chill\"\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eChill hours\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout 500 hours (500 to 800). From published figures. Montana winters give it plenty. In milder climates, make sure your winters average at least this much. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours\"\u003eCheck your chill hours\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours-research#seckel-pear\"\u003esee our sources\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePollination\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePartially Self-Fertile. Bloom group 4 of 7 (mid), mid spring here. Seckel sets some fruit alone but does much better with D'Anjou, Bosc or \u003ca href=\"\/products\/flemish-beauty-pear\"\u003eFlemish Beauty\u003c\/a\u003e. Do not count on \u003ca href=\"\/products\/bartlett-pear\"\u003eBartlett\u003c\/a\u003e or its red sport Red Sensation, since Bartlett pollen does not work on Seckel. Nearby varieties that can boost the crop: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/w0cjbu6yrtjetw48n6ga9edg4vgxoe\"\u003eFlemish Beauty Pear\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/danjou-pear\"\u003eD'Anjou Pear\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/golden-russett-bosc\"\u003eGolden Russet Bosc Pear\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dana-hovey-pear\"\u003eDana Hovey Pear\u003c\/a\u003e and 28 more. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/pear-pollination-map\"\u003ePear Pollination Map\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRipens\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout Sep 30 to Oct 6 in Missoula (picked and dated off our own trees). Real years swing about a week either way. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/ripening-map\"\u003eSee the date for your town\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRootstock and size\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOHxF 87: semi-dwarf, about 14 to 19 ft tall unpruned. The most precocious OHxF stock. Plant 18 to 22 ft apart. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/rootstocks\"\u003eOur rootstock guide\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eGood for\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFresh eating (9\/10), cooking and roasting (8\/10), canning and freezing (8\/10), jams and jellies (7\/10), salads and slicing (6\/10), pies and baking (6\/10). Scores are our own 1 to 10 ratings; 8 and up makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDeer\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSometimes damaged by deer.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWhat you get\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBare root, 5-6 ft. One Year Older and Larger \u0026amp; More Branching or 6-7 ft. One Year Older and Larger \u0026amp; More Branching. Shipped or picked up in Missoula in spring, roots wrapped in moist sawdust. Guaranteed to bud out.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eOverview\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSeckel is the classic “sugar pear”: very small fruit, intensely sweet, richly aromatic flesh, and a long-standing reputation as one of the best-flavored dessert pears ever grown in North America. It has been celebrated in American horticulture for more than two centuries and remains especially compelling for growers who prioritize flavor over fruit size.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eOrigin and history\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSeckel is an American pear discovered as a chance seedling near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (late 1700s to early 1800s depending on the source), and it became known under the name “Seckel” after the person\/farm associated with its early propagation and distribution. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExact parentage has never been proven. There is no confirmed, recorded cross for Seckel, and reputable references continue to describe it as a wild or chance seedling rather than a deliberate breeding result. In other words, any specific parentage claim would be speculation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHistorically, Seckel’s reputation traveled fast because its eating quality was considered exceptional even compared to famous European pears. It was grown at Monticello, and the variety’s long-running cultural footprint is part of why it’s still referred to as “Philadelphia’s pear” in regional horticulture circles. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFruit \u0026amp; Uses\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSeckel fruit is notably small, often “snack-sized,” but dense with sugar and aroma. The pears are consistently buttery, melting flesh and have a distinctive spicy flavor when properly ripened. Deliciously sweet. It ripens in last week of September in Missoula, and the skin is a dull yellowish-brown with russeting and a red cheek or blush. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSeckel is best known as a dessert pear for fresh eating at peak ripeness, but its small size and high sugar also make it excellent for preserves, spiced pears, and pickling. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eGrowth Habit\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSeckel is commonly characterized as vigorous and productive, with an upright-to-spreading habit, and it is often described as relatively small or compact compared with many European pear standards (rootstock and training will still strongly control final size). \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne reason Seckel remains important to growers is that it’s repeatedly noted as having better fire blight resistance than many traditional European pears, which is also why it has been used and referenced in breeding and selection conversations around disease resilience. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSpacing\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe offer Seckel on two root systems: OHxF 87 semi-dwarf and Pyrus communis full size. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn OHxF 87, we recommend 15 feet between trees as a practical baseline. For tighter plantings, 12 feet can work with disciplined pruning and training. For wider spacing, 18 feet is appropriate on more fertile sites, with less pruning intensity, or where you want larger canopies. (These are spacing targets for in-row distances; row spacing is typically wider to accommodate equipment and mature canopy width.)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn Pyrus communis full-size, spacing needs to be wider than OHxF 87. A practical baseline is roughly 18–22 feet between trees (and wider where vigor is high), because full-size pears will ultimately occupy substantially more canopy volume.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePollination\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSeckel is not reliably self-fertile in a way you should bank on for consistent cropping. Many references describe it as at least partially self-fertile, but also emphasize better production with a compatible pollenizer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSeckel is a European pear (Pyrus communis) and should be pollenized with another Pyrus communis cultivar that blooms at the same time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne important compatibility note that shows up in nursery guidance is that \u003ca href=\"\/products\/bartlett-pear\"\u003eBartlett\u003c\/a\u003e is commonly listed as a poor or incompatible match for Seckel as a pollenizer (including explicit “do not pair” guidance). Because we offer Bartlett types in our pear lineup, we do not recommend relying on Bartlett or its sports (i.e. \u003ca href=\"\/products\/red-sensation-bartlett-pear\"\u003eRed Sensation Bartlett\u003c\/a\u003e) as the primary pollenizer for Seckel.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe carry a broad range of other European pears that can serve as pollenizers for Seckel, such as \u003ca href=\"\/products\/flemish-beauty-pear\"\u003eFlemish Beauty\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/stuttgarter-gaishirtle-pear\"\u003eStuttgarter Gaishirtle\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/ubileen-pear\"\u003eUbileen\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/giffard-pear\"\u003eGiffard\u003c\/a\u003e, and others.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCold Hardiness\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhile many places cite Seckel as hardy to zone 5-8, it is hardier than zone 5 for certain. Seckel has been surviving in the Bitterroot Valley for decades, including in Hamilton where winter lows have approached −38°F. There are also reported sightings near Great Falls, particularly Highwood (roughly 30 miles east of Great Falls). While the particular tree in Highwood is positioned somewhat above the valley floor, winter lows in that area can still approach −40°F. At the minimum, we would rate Seckel a solid zone 3b pear.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eOther Notes\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSeckel has an exceptional flavor. It is on of those pears that is repeatedly singled out for dessert quality, and it’s one of the few pears that routinely gets described as excellent rather than merely “good.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDisease-wise, Seckel has better-than-average fire blight resistance among European pears, which is a major reason growers keep coming back to it even when larger-fruited pears exist. That said, it should still be managed like any pear in a fire blight region: avoid excessive nitrogen, push balanced growth, prune thoughtfully, and remove strikes promptly if they occur.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mft-faq\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions we get about Seckel Pear\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDoes Seckel Pear need a pollenizer?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt helps. Seckel Pear is partially self-fertile, so it can set some fruit alone, but a second variety nearby makes crops more dependable. Seckel sets some fruit alone but does much better with \u003ca href=\"\/products\/danjou-pear\"\u003eD'Anjou\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/golden-russett-bosc\"\u003eBosc\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"\/products\/flemish-beauty-pear\"\u003eFlemish Beauty\u003c\/a\u003e. Do not count on \u003ca href=\"\/products\/bartlett-pear\"\u003eBartlett\u003c\/a\u003e or its red sport Red Sensation, since Bartlett pollen does not work on Seckel. Partners we carry include Flemish Beauty Pear, D'Anjou Pear, Golden Russet Bosc Pear.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow cold hardy is Seckel Pear?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe rate Seckel Pear hardy to zone 3b, which means winters down to about -35°F. Our ratings come from real winters at our two Montana sites and from trusted growers across the North, not from a catalog average.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow many chill hours does Seckel Pear need?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout 500 hours of winter chill (we count hours at or below 45°F), likely somewhere between 500 and 800. That comes from published figures for this variety. At about 500 hours, Seckel needs less winter chill than most European pears, so it also suits milder-winter areas. Our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours\"\u003echill hours guide\u003c\/a\u003e has a calculator for your winters, and our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours-research#seckel-pear\"\u003eresearch page\u003c\/a\u003e lists the sources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhen does Seckel Pear ripen?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout Sep 30 to Oct 6 in Missoula, Montana (picked and dated off our own trees). Warmer places run earlier and cooler places later; our ripening map converts the date to your town.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow big does Seckel Pear get?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe graft Seckel Pear onto OHxF 87 (semi-dwarf), which makes a tree roughly 14 to 19 ft tall if you never prune it. Plant 18 to 22 ft apart.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat is Seckel Pear good for?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur top use scores for Seckel Pear are fresh eating (9\/10), cooking and roasting (8\/10), canning and freezing (8\/10), jams and jellies (7\/10). Anything scored 8 or higher makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill deer eat Seckel Pear?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSometimes. Deer browse Seckel Pear now and then, so protect young plants where deer pressure is high.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Montana Fruit Trees","offers":[{"title":"OHxF 87 Semi-Dwarf: 5-6 ft. One Year Older and Larger \u0026 More Branching (Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping)","offer_id":45134574387266,"sku":null,"price":109.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"OHxF 87 Semi-Dwarf: 6-7 ft. One Year Older and Larger \u0026 More Branching (Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping)","offer_id":45134574420034,"sku":null,"price":129.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/seckel-pear-in-hand.jpg?v=1789021076"},{"product_id":"luscious-pear","title":"Luscious Pear (Spring 2027)","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mft-facts\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt a glance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Luscious Pear is a pear tree rated hardy to zone 3 in our ratings (winters to -40°F), not self-fertile, so it needs a different variety nearby as a pollenizer (bloom group 4 of 7, mid for a European pear), and it ripens about Sep 19 to Oct 1 in Missoula (our Missoula estimate).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"mft-facts-table\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eHardy to\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eZone 3 to 8. A bare number means the whole of zone 3, colder half included (winters to -40°F). Our notes have it taking -35°F. Find your zone with our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/cold-hardiness-calculator\"\u003ecold hardiness calculator\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr class=\"mft-chill\"\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eChill hours\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout 800 hours (600 to 1,100). Our estimate. No published figure exists for this variety yet. Montana winters give it plenty. In milder climates, make sure your winters average at least this much. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours\"\u003eCheck your chill hours\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours-research#luscious-pear\"\u003esee our sources\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePollination\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNeeds Cross-Pollination. Bloom group 4 of 7 (mid), mid spring here. Luscious needs a pollenizer, and its own pollen is sterile, so it cannot pollenize any other pear. Plant it with a pollen-producing pear that blooms with it, such as Summercrisp or Bartlett. Good partners we carry: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/bartlett-pear\"\u003eBartlett Pear\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/summercrisp-pear\"\u003eSummercrisp Pear\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dana-hovey-pear\"\u003eDana Hovey Pear\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/w0cjbu6yrtjetw48n6ga9edg4vgxoe\"\u003eFlemish Beauty Pear\u003c\/a\u003e and 30 more. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/pear-pollination-map\"\u003ePear Pollination Map\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRipens\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout Sep 19 to Oct 1 in Missoula (a Missoula estimate from published sources). Real years swing about a week either way. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/ripening-map\"\u003eSee the date for your town\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRootstock and size\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eUssurian: full size, about 20 to 30 ft tall unpruned. The hardiest pear species there is. Plant 18 to 20 ft apart. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/rootstocks\"\u003eOur rootstock guide\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eGood for\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFresh eating (8\/10). Scores are our own 1 to 10 ratings; 8 and up makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDeer\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSometimes damaged by deer.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWhat you get\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBare root, 2-4 ft or 4-6 ft. Shipped or picked up in Missoula in spring, roots wrapped in moist sawdust. Guaranteed to bud out.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"5311\" data-end=\"5325\"\u003eOverview\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"5326\" data-end=\"5541\"\u003eLuscious is a dessert-quality pear developed for cold regions by South Dakota State University, with a strong reputation for flavor and for being useful in northern plantings. The late, legendary Montana fruit grower Rod McIver introduced Luscious to Luke back in 2015. He had several 25+ year old Luscious' that would bear prolifically every year in Kalispell, MT.\u003cspan class=\"\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"5543\" data-end=\"5568\"\u003eHistory \u0026amp; Parentage\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"5569\" data-end=\"5756\"\u003eSDSU’s bulletin describes Luscious as coming from a 1954 cross between South Dakota E31 and Ewart; it was selected in 1967 (as South Dakota 67S11). \u003cspan class=\"\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"5758\" data-end=\"5784\"\u003eFruit Quality \u0026amp; Uses\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"5785\" data-end=\"6017\"\u003eLuscious is a juicy, sweet, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/bartlett-pear\"\u003eBartlett\u003c\/a\u003e-like dessert pear with melting texture. It’s primarily a fresh-eating pear, and it’s also commonly used for general kitchen uses. \u003cspan class=\"\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"6019\" data-end=\"6047\"\u003eGrowth Habit \u0026amp; Spacing\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"6048\" data-end=\"6334\"\u003eA vigorous grower, like most hardy pears, it’s commonly grown on seedling rootstocks that make standard-size trees. We are growing this on OHxF87 rootstock—so spacing often ends up in the ~15 ft range, although we also offer it on Ussurian, which should be planted 18-20 ft. apart. Tighter spacing for each of these rootstocks can work with more pruning.\u003cspan class=\"\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"6336\" data-end=\"6353\"\u003ePollination\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"6354\" data-end=\"6618\"\u003eLuscious has sterile\/poor pollen and should not be relied on to pollenize other pears; it needs a compatible pear nearby for it to set fruit, such as d'anjour, Bartlett, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/summercrisp-pear\"\u003eSummercrisp\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/stuttgarter-gaishirtle-pear\"\u003eStuttgarter Gaishirtle\u003c\/a\u003e, or others. But if you are just planting Luscious and one other, you'll need three total given Luscious' sterile pollen.\u003cspan class=\"\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"6620\" data-end=\"6640\"\u003eCold Hardiness\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"6641\" data-end=\"6806\"\u003eRetail listings commonly place it as zone 4, although in our experience, it is a solid zone 3 tree, having survived -35F temps for Rod McIver in Kalispell. Purvis also lists it as zone 3.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mft-faq\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions we get about Luscious Pear\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDoes Luscious Pear need a pollenizer?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. Luscious Pear needs pollen from a different variety that blooms at about the same time. Luscious needs a pollenizer, and its own pollen is sterile, so it cannot pollenize any other pear. Plant it with a pollen-producing pear that blooms with it, such as \u003ca href=\"\/products\/summercrisp-pear\"\u003eSummercrisp\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"\/products\/bartlett-pear\"\u003eBartlett\u003c\/a\u003e. Partners we carry include Bartlett Pear, Summercrisp Pear, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dana-hovey-pear\"\u003eDana Hovey Pear\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow cold hardy is Luscious Pear?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe rate Luscious Pear hardy to zone 3, which means winters down to about -40°F. Our notes have it taking -35°F. Our ratings come from real winters at our two Montana sites and from trusted growers across the North, not from a catalog average.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow many chill hours does Luscious Pear need?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout 800 hours of winter chill (we count hours at or below 45°F), likely somewhere between 600 and 1,100. Nobody has published a chill figure for it, so that's our estimate from its relatives and origin. Our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours\"\u003echill hours guide\u003c\/a\u003e has a calculator for your winters, and our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours-research#luscious-pear\"\u003eresearch page\u003c\/a\u003e lists the sources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhen does Luscious Pear ripen?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout Sep 19 to Oct 1 in Missoula, Montana (an estimate built from published sources and our climate). Warmer places run earlier and cooler places later; our ripening map converts the date to your town.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow big does Luscious Pear get?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe graft Luscious Pear onto Ussurian (full size), which makes a tree roughly 20 to 30 ft tall if you never prune it. Plant 18 to 20 ft apart.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat is Luscious Pear good for?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur top use scores for Luscious Pear are fresh eating (8\/10). Anything scored 8 or higher makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill deer eat Luscious Pear?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSometimes. Deer browse Luscious Pear now and then, so protect young plants where deer pressure is high.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Montana Fruit Trees","offers":[{"title":"Ussurian Full Size: 2-4 ft. (One Year Older)","offer_id":42500856315970,"sku":null,"price":49.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Ussurian Full Size: 4-6 ft. (One Year Older) Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping","offer_id":45133903691842,"sku":null,"price":74.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/luscious-pear-on-tree.webp?v=1789020604"},{"product_id":"clara-frijs-pear","title":"Clara Frijs Pear (Spring 2027)","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mft-facts\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt a glance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Clara Frijs Pear is a pear tree rated hardy to zone 3b from Bob Purvis's reports (winters to -35°F), and not self-fertile, so it needs a different variety nearby as a pollenizer (bloom group 5 of 7, mid-late for a European pear).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"mft-facts-table\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eHardy to\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eZone 3b to 8. The b means the warmer half of zone 3 only (winters to -35°F). Bob Purvis reports flower buds hardy to at least -34°F. Find your zone with our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/cold-hardiness-calculator\"\u003ecold hardiness calculator\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr class=\"mft-chill\"\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eChill hours\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout 800 hours (600 to 1,000). Our estimate. No published figure exists for this variety yet. Montana winters give it plenty. In milder climates, make sure your winters average at least this much. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours\"\u003eCheck your chill hours\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours-research#clara-frijs-pear\"\u003esee our sources\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePollination\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNeeds Cross-Pollination. Bloom group 5 of 7 (mid-late), mid spring here. Clara Frijs needs a second pear. It blooms a couple of days after \u003ca href=\"\/products\/bartlett-pear\"\u003eBartlett\u003c\/a\u003e, so Clapp's Favorite or Bartlett give the best overlap. Good partners we carry: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/clapps-favorite-pear\"\u003eClapp's Favorite Pear\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/cold-snap-pear\"\u003eCold Snap® Pear\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/concorde-pear\"\u003eConcorde Pear\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/golden-russett-bosc\"\u003eGolden Russet Bosc Pear\u003c\/a\u003e and 17 more. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/pear-pollination-map\"\u003ePear Pollination Map\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRootstock and size\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOHxF 87: semi-dwarf, about 14 to 19 ft tall unpruned. The most precocious OHxF stock. Plant about 15 ft apart. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/rootstocks\"\u003eOur rootstock guide\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eGood for\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFresh eating (8\/10), juice and sweet cider (6\/10). Scores are our 1 to 10 ratings, but we're still new to this one, so they lean on published descriptions and other growers rather than our own harvests. 8 and up makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDeer\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSometimes damaged by deer.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWhat you get\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBare root, 3-5 ft or 5-7 ft. Shipped or picked up in Missoula in spring, roots wrapped in moist sawdust. Guaranteed to bud out.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThis is our first year growing Clara Frijs, so everything below is secondhand until we get more long-term data from our own mother trees.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eOverview\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eClara Frijs is a Danish summer pear with a reputation for flavor. Fedco quotes grower Mark Fulford, who says it's the \"most like nectar\" of the 40 pear varieties he's grown, and Bob Purvis describes the flavor as \"a cross of honey with vanilla.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eOrigin and History\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe full name is Comtesse Clara Frijs. According to Fedco, it was first described in 1858 by J.A. Bentzien in the Danish garden journal Dansk Haugetidende and is thought to come from the village of Skensved. The Danish pomology Danmarks Frugtsorter (1955) also gives Skensved, before 1858, and calls it a major variety in Denmark. Hedrick included it in The Pears of New York (1921).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFruit and Uses\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHedrick's entry is short: \"Fruit medium to large, pale yellow, dotted; flesh white, melting, juicy, sugary, perfumed; good; Aug.\" Fedco adds that it's a warm yellow-green with a rather thick skin, sometimes a slight pink blush, and covered in tiny gray dots, with buttery, aromatic flesh that's \"firm but not crisp\" and has no grit cells. It's a summer pear that ripens well off the tree, and Fedco says it keeps about a month. This is a dessert pear, and Purvis notes it's been very popular at a farmers' market in southwest Minnesota.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eGrowth Habit and Spacing\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOurs are on OHxF 87 semi-dwarf rootstock, which runs about 75% the size of a full size pear. Plan on about 15 feet between trees, 12 feet if you're committed to pruning, or up to 18 feet for more room. Purvis says the tree is very productive, and Fedco calls it a \"solid rugged hardy tree.\" We haven't found good data on how it handles fire blight, so don't count on resistance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePollination\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlant it with another pear. Fedco recommends a second variety for best pollination. It blooms mid to mid-late, so pair it with \u003ca href=\"\/products\/clapps-favorite-pear\"\u003eClapp's Favorite\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/concorde-pear\"\u003eConcorde\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/cold-snap-pear\"\u003eCold Snap\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/golden-russett-bosc\"\u003eGolden Russet Bosc\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/harrow-sweet-pear\"\u003eHarrow Sweet\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"\/products\/ubileen-pear\"\u003eUbileen\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCold Hardiness\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBob Purvis reports flower buds hardy to at least -34F in southwest Minnesota. That's a documented number, and it puts Clara Frijs right at our zone 3b line (-35F). Fedco rates it zone 4.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:12px;color:#777;margin-top:24px\"\u003eImage credit: chromolithograph of the ‘Comtesse Clara Frijs’ pear by Henriette Sjöberg (1842 to 1915), via \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Comtesse_Clara_Frijs_H_Sj%C3%B6berg.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eWikimedia Commons\u003c\/a\u003e, public domain.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:12px;color:#777;margin-top:24px\"\u003ePhoto: “Clara Frijs Skjensvedpaere” by Bahnmoeller, via \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Clara_Frijs_Skjensvedpaere.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eWikimedia Commons\u003c\/a\u003e, licensed \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/3.0\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eCC BY-SA 3.0\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mft-faq\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions we get about Clara Frijs Pear\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDoes Clara Frijs Pear need a pollenizer?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. Clara Frijs Pear needs pollen from a different variety that blooms at about the same time. It blooms a couple of days after \u003ca href=\"\/products\/bartlett-pear\"\u003eBartlett\u003c\/a\u003e, so \u003ca href=\"\/products\/clapps-favorite-pear\"\u003eClapp's Favorite\u003c\/a\u003e or Bartlett give the best overlap. Partners we carry include Clapp's Favorite Pear, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/cold-snap-pear\"\u003eCold Snap\u003c\/a\u003e® Pear, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/concorde-pear\"\u003eConcorde Pear\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow cold hardy is Clara Frijs Pear?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe list Clara Frijs Pear at zone 3b, which means winters down to about -35°F. That comes from Bob Purvis, who reports flower buds hardy to at least -34°F in southwest Minnesota, not from our own winters yet. We'll update it once we've wintered our own trees.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow many chill hours does Clara Frijs Pear need?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout 800 hours of winter chill (we count hours at or below 45°F), likely somewhere between 600 and 1,000. Nobody has published a chill figure for it, so that's our estimate from its relatives and origin. Our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours\"\u003echill hours guide\u003c\/a\u003e has a calculator for your winters, and our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours-research#clara-frijs-pear\"\u003eresearch page\u003c\/a\u003e lists the sources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow big does Clara Frijs Pear get?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe graft Clara Frijs Pear onto OHxF 87 (semi-dwarf), which makes a tree roughly 14 to 19 ft tall if you never prune it. Plant about 15 ft apart.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat is Clara Frijs Pear good for?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur top use scores for Clara Frijs Pear are fresh eating (8\/10), juice and sweet cider (6\/10). Since we're still new to it, those scores lean on published descriptions and other growers rather than our own harvests. Anything scored 8 or higher makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill deer eat Clara Frijs Pear?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSometimes. Deer browse Clara Frijs Pear now and then, so protect young plants where deer pressure is high.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat arrives, and when does Clara Frijs Pear ship?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA dormant bare-root plant, roots wrapped in moist sawdust with a vapor barrier, shipped or picked up in Missoula in spring. Sizes offered: 3-5 ft or 5-7 ft. We guarantee our plants bud out. Stone fruits can be slow, so if one still has not budded out by August 15, write to us and we credit you for the following spring.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Montana Fruit Trees","offers":[{"title":"OHxF 87 Semi-Dwarf: 3-5 ft.","offer_id":45178207109186,"sku":null,"price":49.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"OHxF 87 Semi-Dwarf: 5-7 ft. (Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping)","offer_id":45178207141954,"sku":null,"price":69.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/clara-frijs-pears-basket.jpg?v=1791615288"},{"product_id":"dana-hovey-pear","title":"Dana Hovey Pear (Spring 2027)","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mft-facts\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt a glance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Dana Hovey Pear is a pear tree rated hardy to zone 3 in our ratings (winters to -40°F), not self-fertile, so it needs a different variety nearby as a pollenizer (bloom group 4 of 7, mid for a European pear), and it ripens about Sep 25 to Oct 7 in Missoula (our Missoula estimate).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"mft-facts-table\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eHardy to\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eZone 3 to 8. A bare number means the whole of zone 3, colder half included (winters to -40°F). Find your zone with our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/cold-hardiness-calculator\"\u003ecold hardiness calculator\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr class=\"mft-chill\"\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eChill hours\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout 650 hours (500 to 900). Seedlings vary, so this is based on the parent tree. Montana winters give it plenty. In milder climates, make sure your winters average at least this much. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours\"\u003eCheck your chill hours\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours-research#dana-hovey-pear\"\u003esee our sources\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePollination\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNeeds Cross-Pollination. Bloom group 4 of 7 (mid), mid spring here. No self-fertility data exists for Dana Hovey, and most European pears need a partner, so plant another pear. It blooms with Bartlett and Seckel. Good partners we carry: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/bartlett-pear\"\u003eBartlett Pear\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/w0cjbu6yrtjetw48n6ga9edg4vgxoe\"\u003eFlemish Beauty Pear\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/honeysweet-pear\"\u003eHoneysweet Pear\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/seckel-pear\"\u003eSeckel Pear\u003c\/a\u003e and 29 more. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/pear-pollination-map\"\u003ePear Pollination Map\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRipens\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout Sep 25 to Oct 7 in Missoula (a Missoula estimate from published sources). Real years swing about a week either way. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/ripening-map\"\u003eSee the date for your town\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRootstock and size\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOHxF 87: semi-dwarf, about 14 to 19 ft tall unpruned. The most precocious OHxF stock. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/rootstocks\"\u003eOur rootstock guide\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eGood for\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFresh eating (9\/10), winter storage (7\/10). Scores are our own 1 to 10 ratings; 8 and up makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDeer\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSometimes damaged by deer.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWhat you get\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBare root, 2-3 ft or 3-5 ft. Shipped or picked up in Missoula in spring, roots wrapped in moist sawdust. Guaranteed to bud out.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThis is an incredible pear. One of the best pears I have tried.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eThe Winter Seckel\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDana Hovey is a small, russeted, golden pear that's thought to be a seedling of \u003ca href=\"\/products\/seckel-pear\"\u003eSeckel\u003c\/a\u003e. It's sometimes called the Winter Seckel, because it eats a lot like Seckel but keeps far longer. Plenty of people who grow both like it better.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHistory\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt came out of Roxbury, Massachusetts, around 1854. Francis Dana, a 19th century fruit enthusiast, raised it and named it Dana's Hovey in honor of C.M. Hovey, the Boston nurseryman who wrote The Fruits of America. Charles Downing, one of the great American pomologists, later wrote that if he were planting Seckel for market, he'd take Dana's Hovey instead, because it was larger and richer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFruit\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSize: small and squat, like Seckel\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSkin: golden yellow with russet\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFlesh: buttery and very juicy, intensely sweet and aromatic\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStorage: keeps much longer than Seckel and holds up well after ripening\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhen to Eat It\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePick it in early October and put it away for a few weeks before you eat it, like any winter pear. It's still great eating in December, and stored well it can go into February. A pear this good in the middle of winter is the whole reason to grow it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDana Hovey is new for us, so we'll add our own notes once our trees are fruiting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:12px;color:#777;margin-top:24px\"\u003eImage credit: watercolor of the ‘Dana Hovey’ pear by Mary Daisy Arnold, USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection, via \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Pomological_Watercolor_POM00006945.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eWikimedia Commons\u003c\/a\u003e, public domain.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:12px;color:#777;margin-top:24px\"\u003ePhotos: “Dana Hovey pear fruit, PI 541169 (pyr0166.001.fruit.2005b)” by USDA-ARS National Plant Germplasm System, National Clonal Germplasm Repository, Corvallis, Oregon, via \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/npgsweb.ars-grin.gov\/gringlobal\/accessiondetail?id=1436105\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eUSDA GRIN\u003c\/a\u003e, public domain; “Dana Hovey pear fruit, PI 541169 (pyr0166.001.fruit.2005a)” by USDA-ARS National Plant Germplasm System, National Clonal Germplasm Repository, Corvallis, Oregon, via \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/npgsweb.ars-grin.gov\/gringlobal\/accessiondetail?id=1436105\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eUSDA GRIN\u003c\/a\u003e, public domain; “PI 541169 Dana Hovey fruit, 9-18-2025” by USDA-ARS National Plant Germplasm System, National Clonal Germplasm Repository, Corvallis, Oregon, via \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/npgsweb.ars-grin.gov\/gringlobal\/accessiondetail?id=1436105\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eUSDA GRIN\u003c\/a\u003e, public domain.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mft-faq\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions we get about Dana Hovey Pear\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDoes Dana Hovey Pear need a pollenizer?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. Dana Hovey Pear needs pollen from a different variety that blooms at about the same time. No self-fertility data exists for Dana Hovey, and most European pears need a partner, so plant another pear. It blooms with \u003ca href=\"\/products\/bartlett-pear\"\u003eBartlett\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"\/products\/seckel-pear\"\u003eSeckel\u003c\/a\u003e. Partners we carry include Bartlett Pear, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/flemish-beauty-pear\"\u003eFlemish Beauty Pear\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/honeysweet-pear\"\u003eHoneysweet Pear\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow cold hardy is Dana Hovey Pear?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe rate Dana Hovey Pear hardy to zone 3, which means winters down to about -40°F. Our ratings come from real winters at our two Montana sites and from trusted growers across the North, not from a catalog average.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow many chill hours does Dana Hovey Pear need?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout 650 hours of winter chill (we count hours at or below 45°F), likely somewhere between 500 and 900. Seedlings vary, so that's based on the parent, Seckel. Our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours\"\u003echill hours guide\u003c\/a\u003e has a calculator for your winters, and our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours-research#dana-hovey-pear\"\u003eresearch page\u003c\/a\u003e lists the sources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhen does Dana Hovey Pear ripen?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout Sep 25 to Oct 7 in Missoula, Montana (an estimate built from published sources and our climate). Warmer places run earlier and cooler places later; our ripening map converts the date to your town.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow big does Dana Hovey Pear get?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe graft Dana Hovey Pear onto OHxF 87 (semi-dwarf), which makes a tree roughly 14 to 19 ft tall if you never prune it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat is Dana Hovey Pear good for?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur top use scores for Dana Hovey Pear are fresh eating (9\/10), winter storage (7\/10). Anything scored 8 or higher makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill deer eat Dana Hovey Pear?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSometimes. Deer browse Dana Hovey Pear now and then, so protect young plants where deer pressure is high.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Montana Fruit Trees","offers":[{"title":"OHxF 87 Semi-Dwarf: 2-3 ft.","offer_id":45178215628866,"sku":null,"price":34.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"OHxF 87 Semi-Dwarf: 3-5 ft.","offer_id":45178215661634,"sku":null,"price":49.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/dana-hovey-pear-on-tree.jpg?v=1791615371"},{"product_id":"frost-pear","title":"Frost Pear (Spring 2027)","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mft-facts\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt a glance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Frost Pear is a pear tree rated hardy to zone 3 in our ratings (winters to -40°F), not self-fertile, so it needs a different variety nearby as a pollenizer (bloom group 4 of 7, mid for a European pear), and it ripens about Sep 21 to Oct 1 in Missoula (our Missoula estimate).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"mft-facts-table\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eHardy to\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eZone 3 to 8. A bare number means the whole of zone 3, colder half included (winters to -40°F). Find your zone with our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/cold-hardiness-calculator\"\u003ecold hardiness calculator\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr class=\"mft-chill\"\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eChill hours\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout 800 hours (600 to 1,000). Our estimate. No published figure exists for this variety yet. Montana winters give it plenty. In milder climates, make sure your winters average at least this much. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours\"\u003eCheck your chill hours\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours-research#frost-pear\"\u003esee our sources\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePollination\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNeeds Cross-Pollination. Bloom group 4 of 7 (mid), mid spring here. Frost's pollination needs are unknown, so plant another pear nearby. A Bartlett-season pear is the safest bet for overlapping bloom. Good partners we carry: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/bartlett-pear\"\u003eBartlett Pear\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dana-hovey-pear\"\u003eDana Hovey Pear\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/w0cjbu6yrtjetw48n6ga9edg4vgxoe\"\u003eFlemish Beauty Pear\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/honeysweet-pear\"\u003eHoneysweet Pear\u003c\/a\u003e and 29 more. Bloom group is our estimate from the variety's origin and relatives. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/pear-pollination-map\"\u003ePear Pollination Map\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRipens\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout Sep 21 to Oct 1 in Missoula (a Missoula estimate from published sources). Real years swing about a week either way. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/ripening-map\"\u003eSee the date for your town\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRootstock and size\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOHxF 87: semi-dwarf, about 14 to 19 ft tall unpruned. The most precocious OHxF stock. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/rootstocks\"\u003eOur rootstock guide\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eGood for\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFresh eating (7\/10). Scores are our own 1 to 10 ratings; 8 and up makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDeer\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSometimes damaged by deer.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWhat you get\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBare root, 2-3 ft or 3-5 ft. Shipped or picked up in Missoula in spring, roots wrapped in moist sawdust. Guaranteed to bud out.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eA Bitterroot Ranch Pear\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis selection was discovered on an old ranch in Montana's Bitterroot Valley. The old veteran was planted nearly 100 years ago, and according to Roger Joy, it used to win the blue ribbon at the county fair.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhere the Name Comes From\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo positive identification has been made on this pear yet. So, continuing a tradition of more than twenty years, we're keeping the name it has long gone by, the ranch name \"Frost,\" until a definite identification can be made.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFruit\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe fruit is quite large, similar to \u003ca href=\"\/products\/bartlett-pear\"\u003eBartlett\u003c\/a\u003e in size and shape, with sweet, juicy, melting flesh. It ripens in late September.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTree\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe canopy is upright and vigorous, and the old tree has shown good disease resistance. A favorite in the Bitterroot and one we recommend for western Montana.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrost is new for us, so we'll add our own notes once our trees are fruiting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:12px;color:#777;margin-top:24px\"\u003eRepresentative photo of a large Bartlett-shaped pear, not Frost itself. Photo credit: “Foto Takkk Hungary Pyrus pear” by Takács István, via \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Foto_Takkk_Hungary_Pyrus_pear.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eWikimedia Commons\u003c\/a\u003e, in the public domain.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mft-faq\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions we get about Frost Pear\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDoes Frost Pear need a pollenizer?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. Frost Pear needs pollen from a different variety that blooms at about the same time. Frost's pollination needs are unknown, so plant another pear nearby. A \u003ca href=\"\/products\/bartlett-pear\"\u003eBartlett\u003c\/a\u003e-season pear is the safest bet for overlapping bloom. Partners we carry include Bartlett Pear, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dana-hovey-pear\"\u003eDana Hovey Pear\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/flemish-beauty-pear\"\u003eFlemish Beauty Pear\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow cold hardy is Frost Pear?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe rate Frost Pear hardy to zone 3, which means winters down to about -40°F. Our ratings come from real winters at our two Montana sites and from trusted growers across the North, not from a catalog average.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow many chill hours does Frost Pear need?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout 800 hours of winter chill (we count hours at or below 45°F), likely somewhere between 600 and 1,000. Nobody has published a chill figure for it, so that's our estimate from its relatives and origin. An unidentified Bitterroot Valley heirloom with no published chill data. It's proven in Montana winters; plan on about 800 hours elsewhere. Our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours\"\u003echill hours guide\u003c\/a\u003e has a calculator for your winters, and our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours-research#frost-pear\"\u003eresearch page\u003c\/a\u003e lists the sources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhen does Frost Pear ripen?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout Sep 21 to Oct 1 in Missoula, Montana (an estimate built from published sources and our climate). Warmer places run earlier and cooler places later; our ripening map converts the date to your town.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow big does Frost Pear get?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe graft Frost Pear onto OHxF 87 (semi-dwarf), which makes a tree roughly 14 to 19 ft tall if you never prune it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat is Frost Pear good for?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur top use scores for Frost Pear are fresh eating (7\/10).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill deer eat Frost Pear?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSometimes. Deer browse Frost Pear now and then, so protect young plants where deer pressure is high.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Montana Fruit Trees","offers":[{"title":"OHxF 87 Semi-Dwarf: 2-3 ft.","offer_id":45178265337922,"sku":null,"price":34.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"OHxF 87 Semi-Dwarf: 3-5 ft.","offer_id":45178265370690,"sku":null,"price":49.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/frost-pear-representative-pear-on-tree.jpg?v=1790130543"},{"product_id":"vermont-beauty-pear","title":"Vermont Beauty Pear (Spring 2027)","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mft-facts\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt a glance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Vermont Beauty Pear is a pear tree rated hardy to zone 3 in our ratings (winters to -40°F), and not self-fertile, so it needs a different variety nearby as a pollenizer (bloom group 4 of 7, mid for a European pear).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"mft-facts-table\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eHardy to\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eZone 3 to 8. A bare number means the whole of zone 3, colder half included (winters to -40°F). Find your zone with our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/cold-hardiness-calculator\"\u003ecold hardiness calculator\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr class=\"mft-chill\"\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eChill hours\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout 750 hours (600 to 1,000). Our estimate. No published figure exists for this variety yet. Montana winters give it plenty. In milder climates, make sure your winters average at least this much. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours\"\u003eCheck your chill hours\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours-research#vermont-beauty-pear\"\u003esee our sources\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePollination\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNeeds Cross-Pollination. Bloom group 4 of 7 (mid), mid spring here. Plan on a second pear for Vermont Beauty. A Bartlett-season pear such as Bartlett or \u003ca href=\"\/products\/flemish-beauty-pear\"\u003eFlemish Beauty\u003c\/a\u003e is the safest bet for overlapping bloom. Good partners we carry: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/bartlett-pear\"\u003eBartlett Pear\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dana-hovey-pear\"\u003eDana Hovey Pear\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/w0cjbu6yrtjetw48n6ga9edg4vgxoe\"\u003eFlemish Beauty Pear\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/honeysweet-pear\"\u003eHoneysweet Pear\u003c\/a\u003e and 29 more. Bloom group is our estimate from the variety's origin and relatives. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/pear-pollination-map\"\u003ePear Pollination Map\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRootstock and size\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOHxF 87: semi-dwarf, about 14 to 19 ft tall unpruned. The most precocious OHxF stock. Plant about 15 ft apart. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/rootstocks\"\u003eOur rootstock guide\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eGood for\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFresh eating (8\/10), pies and baking (6\/10), cooking and roasting (6\/10). Scores are our 1 to 10 ratings, but we're still new to this one, so they lean on published descriptions and other growers rather than our own harvests. 8 and up makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDeer\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSometimes damaged by deer.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWhat you get\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBare root, 3-5 ft. Shipped or picked up in Missoula in spring, roots wrapped in moist sawdust. Guaranteed to bud out.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThis is our first year growing Vermont Beauty, so everything below is secondhand until we get more long-term data from our own mother trees.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eOverview\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVermont Beauty is a small, bright-cheeked pear shaped like a \u003ca href=\"\/products\/seckel-pear\"\u003eSeckel\u003c\/a\u003e, only bigger and showier. U.P. Hedrick wrote in 1921 that \"of all pears, those of this variety... best satisfy the eye for bright color.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eOrigin and History\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHedrick says it's supposed to have originated at Benjamin Macomber's nursery in Grand Isle, Vermont, sometime before about 1880. It was one of hundreds of seedlings planted for rootstock. The bud grafted onto it failed, and the seedling was left to grow. It was introduced by W.P. Rupert and Son of Seneca, New York, and added to the American Pomological Society's list in 1899. Hedrick also compared it closely with the old German pear Forelle and found the two \"indistinguishable,\" so it may really be Forelle under a new name. It's also a grandparent of \u003ca href=\"\/products\/honeysweet-pear\"\u003eHoneysweet\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFruit and Uses\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHedrick says the fruit is \"almost as delectable as those of Seckel, which they resemble in shape, but are larger and handsomer.\" Bob Purvis describes it as medium sized and lemon yellow, with melting, smooth, dense, fine-grained, juicy flesh. The two don't agree on timing. Hedrick had it ripening a little after Seckel and keeping longer, and Purvis has it ripening before Seckel and keeping 8 to 12 weeks. It's good fresh, and Hedrick thought its \"more sprightly flavor\" made it better than Seckel for cooking.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eGrowth Habit and Spacing\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOurs are on OHxF 87 semi-dwarf rootstock, which runs about 75% the size of a full size pear. Plan on about 15 feet between trees, 12 feet if you're committed to pruning, or up to 18 feet for more room. Hedrick praised the tree for its size, growth, productivity and health, saying the trees \"rejoice in vigor and health as do those of almost no other variety.\" Purvis calls it extremely productive and says it was highly resistant to fire blight during a blight epidemic at his place in 2016.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePollination\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt needs a pollenizer. It blooms mid-season, so pair it with \u003ca href=\"\/products\/flemish-beauty-pear\"\u003eFlemish Beauty\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/harrow-sweet-pear\"\u003eHarrow Sweet\u003c\/a\u003e, Honeysweet, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/ubileen-pear\"\u003eUbileen\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/waterville-pear\"\u003eWaterville\u003c\/a\u003e or Seckel.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCold Hardiness\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBob Purvis rates it hardy in zone 4. Hedrick praised its hardiness in one place but in another lumped it with pears that were \"a little too tender to cold\" for New York. We rate it a solid zone 3, hardy to -40F.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:12px;color:#777;margin-top:24px\"\u003eImage credit: watercolor of the ‘Vermont Beauty’ pear by Mary Daisy Arnold, USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection, via \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Pomological_Watercolor_POM00007090.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eWikimedia Commons\u003c\/a\u003e, public domain.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:12px;color:#777;margin-top:24px\"\u003ePhotos: “Vermont Beauty pear fruit, PI 541277 (pyr0591.001.fruit.2005)” by USDA-ARS National Plant Germplasm System, National Clonal Germplasm Repository, Corvallis, Oregon, via \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/npgsweb.ars-grin.gov\/gringlobal\/accessiondetail?id=1436213\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eUSDA GRIN\u003c\/a\u003e, public domain; “Vermont Beauty pear fruit, PI 541277 (pyr0592.001.fruit.2011)” by USDA-ARS National Plant Germplasm System, National Clonal Germplasm Repository, Corvallis, Oregon, via \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/npgsweb.ars-grin.gov\/gringlobal\/accessiondetail?id=1436213\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eUSDA GRIN\u003c\/a\u003e, public domain.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mft-faq\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions we get about Vermont Beauty Pear\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDoes Vermont Beauty Pear need a pollenizer?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. Vermont Beauty Pear needs pollen from a different variety that blooms at about the same time. A \u003ca href=\"\/products\/bartlett-pear\"\u003eBartlett\u003c\/a\u003e-season pear such as Bartlett or \u003ca href=\"\/products\/flemish-beauty-pear\"\u003eFlemish Beauty\u003c\/a\u003e is the safest bet for overlapping bloom. Partners we carry include Bartlett Pear, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dana-hovey-pear\"\u003eDana Hovey Pear\u003c\/a\u003e, Flemish Beauty Pear.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow cold hardy is Vermont Beauty Pear?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe rate Vermont Beauty Pear hardy to zone 3, which means winters down to about -40°F. Our ratings come from real winters at our two Montana sites and from trusted growers across the North, not from a catalog average.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow many chill hours does Vermont Beauty Pear need?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout 750 hours of winter chill (we count hours at or below 45°F), likely somewhere between 600 and 1,000. Nobody has published a chill figure for it, so that's our estimate from its relatives and origin. Our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours\"\u003echill hours guide\u003c\/a\u003e has a calculator for your winters, and our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours-research#vermont-beauty-pear\"\u003eresearch page\u003c\/a\u003e lists the sources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow big does Vermont Beauty Pear get?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe graft Vermont Beauty Pear onto OHxF 87 (semi-dwarf), which makes a tree roughly 14 to 19 ft tall if you never prune it. Plant about 15 ft apart.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat is Vermont Beauty Pear good for?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur top use scores for Vermont Beauty Pear are fresh eating (8\/10), pies and baking (6\/10), cooking and roasting (6\/10). Since we're still new to it, those scores lean on Hedrick and Purvis rather than our own harvests. Anything scored 8 or higher makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill deer eat Vermont Beauty Pear?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSometimes. Deer browse Vermont Beauty Pear now and then, so protect young plants where deer pressure is high.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat arrives, and when does Vermont Beauty Pear ship?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA dormant bare-root plant, roots wrapped in moist sawdust with a vapor barrier, shipped or picked up in Missoula in spring. Sizes offered: 3-5 ft. We guarantee our plants bud out. Stone fruits can be slow, so if one still has not budded out by August 15, write to us and we credit you for the following spring.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Montana Fruit Trees","offers":[{"title":"OHxF 87 Semi-Dwarf: 3-5 ft.","offer_id":45178280575042,"sku":null,"price":49.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/vermont-beauty-pears-on-tree.jpg?v=1791616362"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/collections\/clara-frijs-pears-basket.jpg?v=1792782831","url":"https:\/\/www.montanafruittrees.com\/collections\/zone-3-pear-trees.oembed","provider":"Montana Fruit Trees","version":"1.0","type":"link"}