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Fruit Edible

Pyrus communis 'Doyenné du Comice' (D)

pear 'Doyenné du Comice'

A dessert pear with a very rich flavour; very juicy, buttery, perfumed. Excellent quality, but moderate crops, although older trees crop more reliably; season of use from November to December. A vigorous tree in pollination group 4

Synonyms

Pyrus 'Comice'

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Ultimate height

4–8 metres

Time to ultimate height

5–10 years

Ultimate spread

4–8 metres

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained, Well–drained

pH

Acid, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

West–facing or South–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Rosaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Pyrus are deciduous trees or shrubs with oval leaves and scented white flowers in spring, followed by green or brown fruits, edible in some species
Name status: Accepted
Horticultural Group: Dessert pears are sweet and juicy and are best eaten picked fresh and raw

How to grow

Cultivation

Needs a deep, fertile, moist but well-drained, fairly neutral soil in a sheltered, sunny position. Will not thrive on very acid soils, shallow chalk soils or with shade for more than half the day. See Pears or pear cultivation for further advice

Propagation

Propagate by grafting or chip budding onto a rootstock for fruit. Quince rootstocks are usually used for pears

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Wildlife gardens
City and courtyard gardens
Edible fruit
Wall side borders

Pruning

Regular pruning required; a spur bearer. Prune according to form: cordons, espaliers and pruning established fans. Can also be grown as standards or spindlebushes. For further guidance see: pruning new pear trees, summer pear pruning, winter pear pruning, renovating pear trees

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids, caterpillars, codling moth, pear blister mite, pear midge and pear and cherry slugworm

Diseases

May be susceptible to blossom wilt, brown rot, fireblight, pear scab, European pear rust and honey fungus (rarely)

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