Beurre Bosc pear trees

Pyrus communis 'Beurre Bosc'

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• Self-fertility: Not self-fertile
• Pollination group: 5

Beurre Bosc is high quality and versatile pear, excellent for eating fresh, but also useful in the kitchen. It is notable for its classic buttery firm white flesh, rich flavor, and golden skin.

Bosc has been widely-grown in the USA since the early 19th century, and could almost be considered an American heirloom variety, although it originates from France.

Beurre Bosc pear trees for sale

• 1Semi-standard 1-year bare-root tree $39.95
  Mature height: 10ft-16ft after 10 years
  Semi-vigorous rootstock
  

  Out of stock
  
• 2Full-size 1-year bare-root tree $42.95
  Mature height: 16ft-24ft after 10 years
  OHxF 97 rootstock
  

  Out of stock
  

How to grow

Beurre Bosc is a fairly vigorous tree, somewhat susceptible to disease (fireblight, scab, and canker) but nevertheless usually a reliable and heavy cropper.

Beurre Bosc is also a good pollenizer for Bartlett, Comice and other mid/late blooming pears. Its relatively late blooming period means it is useful in areas prone to frosts.

Advice on fruit tree pollination.

History

Beurre Bosc originated in France, at the start of the 19th century. English fruit enthusiast Robert Hogg, writing at the end of the 19th century, believed it was discovered as a seedling growing in the region of Dijon in eastern France. It was probably named after either M. Bosc, the Director of the Jardin des Plantes in Paris, or L. Bosc, a French horticulturalist. Confusingly there is a second variety also called Bosc (sometimes Calebasse Bosc) which was found in Linkebeeke in Belgium at around the same time, but this seems to have been of lesser quality and is no longer in use.

The French variety was brought to the USA early in the 19th century, and was found to be well-suited to the climates of New England and the Pacific North West where it is still grown commercially.

Beurre Bosc characteristics

• Gardening skillAverage
• Self-fertilityNot self-fertile
• Pollination group5
• Pollinating othersGood
• Picking seasonLate
• UsesEating freshCulinary
• Keeping (of fruit)2-3 weeks
• General resistancePoor
• FireblightSome susceptibility
• CankerSome susceptibility
• ScabSome susceptibility
• Cold hardiness (USDA)Zone 5 (-29C)
• Summer maximum temperaturesWarm (25-30C / 76-85F)
• Country of originFrance
• Period of origin1800 - 1849
• Fruit colorGold