Comice Pear

Comice Pear (Pyrus communis 'Comice')

Comice Pear is a gourmet European pear celebrated for exceptionally sweet, aromatic, buttery flesh and smooth green skin that may show light russet or red blush; a handsome tree with white spring bloom and a rounded canopy for home orchards and espaliers.

Distinctive Features

Large, dessert-quality pears with melting texture are harvested firm and finished at room temperature for peak flavor; reliable late-season ripening under good pollination and careful thinning produces premium fruit.

Growing Conditions

• Sun Exposure: Full sun (6+ hours) for best bloom, fruit set, and sugar.
• Soil: Deep, well-drained loam enriched with organic matter; avoid soggy or compacted sites.
• Water: Keep evenly moist from bloom through fruit swell; do not allow prolonged drought.
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9.
• Mature Size: About 12 to 18 ft tall and wide on semi-dwarf; 8 to 12 ft on dwarf rootstocks.
• Bloom Time: Spring; harvest late summer to early fall, then ripen indoors.
• Soil pH: Slightly acidic to neutral, about 6.0 to 7.0.

Ideal Uses

• Focal Point: Fragrant blossom and blushed fruit create a seasonal centerpiece.
• Home Orchard: Plant with a compatible pollinizer for heavy yields.
• Espalier: Spur-bearing habit suits tiered cordons and fans on fences or walls.
• Edible Landscape: Attractive canopy integrates with herbs and pollinator borders.

Low Maintenance Care

• Watering: Deeply soak when the top 1 to 2 in are dry; increase during heat, bloom, and fruit swell.
• Pruning: Winter prune to open the canopy and renew fruiting spurs; summer pinch vigorous shoots to improve light and airflow.
• Fertilizing: Apply a balanced, low to moderate nitrogen fruit tree fertilizer in early spring based on soil test; avoid excess nitrogen that invites fire blight.
• Mulching: Spread 2 to 3 in of organic mulch over the root zone, keeping it off the trunk, to conserve moisture and moderate temperature.
• Notes: Requires a compatible European pear nearby such as Bartlett or Anjou; thin clusters after June drop, monitor for fire blight and pear psylla, and harvest firm to finish ripening at room temperature.

Why Choose Comice Pear?

• Top Dessert Quality: Buttery, ultra-juicy flesh with rich sweetness.
• Late-Season Reward: Extends harvest window with premium fruit.
• Training Flexibility: Performs as a free-standing tree or formal espalier.
• Landscape Value: Spring bloom and glossy foliage enhance edible plantings.

Plant in full sun with deep, well-drained soil, pair with a pollinizer, and ripen harvested fruit indoors for the finest flavor and texture.