Pyrus communis 'Beurré Clairgeau' (C)

RHS Plant Profile
pear 'Beurré Clairgeau'
Plants for pollinators
Fruit Edible Trees

A compact, upright tree with shiny, rounded leaves and white blossom in spring. The medium-to-large, conical, cooking pears have rough, russetted, golden-brown to yellow skin with an orange-red blush, and firm, gritty, white, rather dry flesh with a musky flavour. Pick in mid-autumn and use to late autumn; crops well, but fruit often poor quality in UK conditions. Not self-fertile, in pollination group 2

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

4-8 metres

Max Spread

2.5-4 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
10–20 years
Max Spread
2.5-4 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
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness
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, Columnar upright, Spreading branched
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
Unresolved
Horticultural Group
Pears suitable for culinary use have a tart flavour and are best cooked or made into a puree

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 budding onto a clonal rootstock for fruit. Fruit grown from pips will not resemble the parent

Suggested planting locations and garden types

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

Pruning

Thin fruit in late spring or early summer to improve size and quality; see fruit thinning. Regular pruning required; 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)