Bartlett Pear Tree
Pyrus communis 'Williams' Bon Chretien'
Bartlett Pear Tree
Pyrus communis 'Williams' Bon Chretien'
How are the heights measured?
All tree, and nothin' but the tree! We measure from the top of the soil to the top of the tree; the height of the container or the root system is never included in our measurements.
What is a gallon container?
Nursery containers come in a variety of different sizes, and old-school nursery slang has stuck. While the industry-standard terminology is to call the sizes "Gallon Containers", that doesn't exactly translate to the traditional liquid "gallon" size we think of. You'll find we carry young 1-gallons, up to more mature 7-gallons ranging anywhere from 6 inches to 6ft.
How does the delivery process work?
All of our orders ship via FedEx Ground! Once your order is placed online, our magic elves get right to work picking, staging, boxing and shipping your trees. Orders typically ship out within 2 business days. You will receive email notifications along the way on the progress of your order, as well as tracking information to track your plants all the way to their new home!
Why are some states excluded from shipping?
The short & sweet answer is: "United States Department of Agriculture Restrictions." Every state has their own unique USDA restrictions on which plants they allow to come into their state. While we wish we could serve everyone, it's for the safety of native species and helps prevent the spread of invasive disease & pests. We've gotta protect good ole' Mother Nature, after all.
About Me
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The Bartlett Pear Tree is an heirloom pear variety that is very popular all over the world. It has stood the test of time and is still the best all-round pear available. It has an excellent flavor and can be eaten fresh or used for baking and cooking. This is one of the easiest fruit trees to grow and if you are new to fruit-growing the Bartlett Pear is a great place to start. In just a few years you will be enjoying your own home-grown pears fresh or in baking. The tree can be grown from zone 5 to zone 8 and reaches 15 to 20 feet in height. Unlike most other pears the Bartlett Pear is self-fertile, and a good crop will be produced from just one tree, so this is the perfect variety of pear for small gardens.
- Best all-round pear for eating and cooking
- Self-fertile, so just one tree crops well
- Easily grown almost anywhere
- Classic heirloom variety
- Thrives in most soils and conditions
Grow the Bartlett Pear Tree in full sun, in any well-drained soil. It thrives in ordinary garden conditions, and although all pear trees can have pests and diseases from time to time, this heirloom variety is more resistant than many others – a perfect choice for growing pesticide-free fruit. No elaborate pruning is needed, and to get large fruits all you have to do is thin-out the clusters to one or two pears, when they are still tiny. Some simple training to create a vase-shaped tree will give the best ripening, especially in cooler zones.
- Plant Hardiness Zones 5-8
- Mature Width 8-10
- Mature Height 15-20
- Sun Needs Full Sun
Pear trees are a great way to start growing fruit trees, as they are one of the easiest trees to grow and one of the most versatile fruits. They can be eaten fresh, used in sweet or savory salads, baked into pies and desserts and even turned into delicious jams. It can be canned for winter or frozen as well. Of all the pears, the Bartlett Pear is the most well-known and the most reliable, being well-adapted to a wide range of weather and soil conditions. Most pear trees need a second variety to act as a pollinator, but the Bartlett Pear will produce a good crop all by itself, making it a great choice for a smaller garden where you only have room for one fruit tree. It can also be grown against a sunny wall and trained along wires to take up no room at all. This is especially useful in colder regions where the warmth of the wall will help ripen the fruit and encourage flowering as well.
Growing Bartlett Pear Trees
The Bartlett Pear tree grows 15 to 20 feet tall, with glossy, deep-green leaves about 3 inches long. In spring clusters of white flowers will appear on the bare branches and these will be quickly followed by small pears. The fruit ripens at the end of August and should be picked when the skin begins to turn from green to yellow but while it is still firm to the touch. Pears taste best and have the best texture if ripening is completed off the tree. Place the fruit indoors for a few days to finish the ripening process.
Planting Location
Choose a sunny, sheltered location for your Bartlett Pear tree. It will grow best in a deep, rich soil that is slightly acidic, but as this is a vigorous tree it will grow well in most types of soil. However, it does not like soil that is wet and heavy with clay. If you have heavy soil add plenty of rich organic material like garden compost or rotted manure which will improve the soil and help your tree to grow well. Turn over an area of ground about 6 feet across where you want to plant your tree, adding organic material and some bone meal or superphosphate. When planting you will see a bend in the trunk where the tree was joined to its roots, and that point must be 2 or 3 inches above the soil level.
Care and Maintenance
After planting cover the root-zone with rich mulch but do not touch the trunk with it. Do not allow weeds or grass to grow over the root-zone of your tree. During the first year water well once a week and then only when the soil is getting dry. Always water well and water the root area under the branches, not close to the trunk. Each spring add a new layer of mulch, extending it outwards as your tree grows.
Pear trees need only minimal pruning. When your tree is young remove any crowded branches and use strings attached to stones to pull the young shoots down to about 600 from the horizontal so that they are well spread out. Once the tree has developed the only pruning is to shorten back long shoots and stop the branches from getting too crowded. Remove branches that sprout from the main stems when they are young. This should be done in late summer after fruiting or in late winter before new growth begins. Prune during dry, sunny periods and not during wet, cloudy days. If you have a heavy crop of baby pears, remove some to leave one pear every 5 inches. You will have a smaller number of pears, but they will be bigger and better quality.
History and Origins of the Bartlett Pear Tree
The Bartlett Pear has a long history. It began its life in England around 1765 in the garden of a schoolmaster and was taken and grown by a nurseryman called Williams. It was at that time called the Williams Pear, or more correctly ‘Williams’ Bon Chrétien’. Plants were brought to America in 1799 and planted on an estate in Roxbury, Massachusetts. The estate was later bought by a Mr. Bartlett, who thought he had something new, named the pear after himself and distributed it across the country. His naming mistake was discovered in 1828, but by then the name had caught on. So in American and Canada this pear is still called Bartlett. In most other countries it is called ‘Williams’.
The Bartlett Pear is a special heirloom variety and must be reproduced in the correct way. Our trees are grown by taking stems from correctly identified parent plants and grafting them onto the roots of special roots pear varieties that control the size and growth of the tree. Avoid cheaper trees that may be seedlings and will definitely not grow to be the right variety. Our Bartlett Pear Trees are true to the original type and we are constantly receiving new plants so that our customers only have the best material for planting. However this is our most popular pear tree, and supplies can be limited, so order now to avoid being disappointed.
