Pyrus communis 'Red Sensation Bartlett' (D/C)

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pear 'Red Sensation Bartlett'

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pear 'Red Sensation Bartlett' RHS

Synonyms

Pyrus pyrifolia 'Sensation'
Pyrus communis 'Sensation'

Plants for pollinators
Fruit Edible Trees
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A red-skinned sport of 'Williams' Bon Chrétien', suitable for dessert or culinary use, growing 2.5-8m tall depending upon the rootstock. Flowers white, foliage red in spring, fruit dark red with a good flavour. Partially self-fertile; pollination group 3. Season of use mid- to late September

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

4-8 metres

Max Spread

4-8 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
10–20 years
Max Spread
4-8 metres
Max Height
4-8 metres

Growing Conditions

Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

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)
H6

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

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

Horticultural Classification Codes

Horticultural Classification Codes are often given to genera which have a large number of species or cultivars. They are used to categorise cultivated plants based on specific, shared characteristics such as shape, colour, size or flowering time, and can be displayed as letters or numbers

For example:
Dahlia ‘Sunset Kate (Sin) = Single flower
Rosa ‘Marigold’ (HT) = Hybrid Tea

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. Flowers early and so at risk from spring frosts. Thin fruit in late spring or early summer to improve size and quality. See Pears or pear cultivation for further advice

Propagation

Propagate by grafting or chip budding onto a clonal rootstock for fruit; quince rootstocks are usually used. The rootstock used will largely determine the vigour

Suggested planting locations and garden types

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

Pruning

Regular pruning required; a spur bearer. Prune cordons and other restricted forms in summer and all trees in winter. Further pruning advice: pruning new pear trees, summer pear pruning, winter pear pruning, renovating pear trees, pruning established fans

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)