🍐 China Green Asian Pear Tree

🌸 Origin and type

• Species: Pyrus pyrifolia

• Origin: China, according to historical information reported by the grower.

• Selector: Ken Taylor.

• Type: Asian pear tree.

• Special feature: Selected for its very large green fruit, particularly fine texture, and juicy, crisp flesh.

• Uses: Fresh eating and processing.

China Green stands out for its apple-green fruit, which resembles large Granny Smith apples.

🌳 Tree characteristics

• Habit: Upright to spreading.

• Mature height: Varies with the rootstock and growing conditions.

• Spread: Depends on training and pruning.

• Hardiness: Zone 3 to 4.

• Exposure: Full sun.

• Soil: Fertile, deep and well drained.

• Growth: Vigorous.

• Time to bearing: Early; may produce after a few years.

• Productivity: Good to high when pollination is assured.

🍐 Fruit

• Shape: Round to oblong, sometimes irregular.

• Size: Very large.

• Skin: Apple green, relatively thin.

• Flesh: White, very juicy and crisp.

• Texture: Extremely fine and crunchy.

• Flavour: Mild, refreshing and delicately sweet, without being overpowering.

• Harvest: Early September.

• Ripening: Fruit can be eaten straight from the tree over an extended period.

• Uses: Fresh eating, fruit salads, desserts and processing.

• Storage: Good, like many Asian pears, when properly harvested and stored.

The particularly thin skin and fine flesh are two characteristics highlighted by grower Whiffletree.

🌼 Flowering and pollination

• Flowering: Spring, generally early to mid-season.

• Flower colour: White.

• Self-fertile: No.

• Pollination: Requires another compatible pear tree for good fruiting.

Pollinizers to consider:

• Shinseiki

• Kosui

• Shinsui

Asian pear trees can generally pollinate each other when their flowering periods overlap. Some European pear trees may also be suitable.

🛠️ Growing and care

• Planting: Spring or fall, outside periods of frost.

• Watering: Regular during the first few years and droughts.

• Pruning: Annually, to maintain balanced structure and promote air circulation.

• Thinning: Strongly recommended for very large fruit and to prevent branches bending under the crop's weight.

• Fertilizing: Compost or fruit-tree fertilizer in spring, according to soil needs.

• Drainage: Important to prevent root problems.

• Location: Choose a sunny, relatively sheltered spot.

Asian pears tend to crop heavily from a young age. It is therefore best to limit production during the first few years to encourage a strong framework.

🦠 Diseases and resistance

• Fire blight: A disease to monitor in pear trees.

• Scab: Can affect foliage and fruit.

• Fruit rot: Monitor damaged or overcrowded fruit.

• Prevention: Maintain good air circulation, remove affected branches and avoid excess moisture.

China Green's specific disease resistance is not sufficiently documented to attribute particular resistance to it.

🍽️ Uses

• Fresh eating.

• Fruit salads.

• Desserts and pastries.

• Fruit platters.

• Juices and smoothies.

• Refrigerated storage.

💡 Highlights

✅ Very large, apple-green fruit.

✅ Particularly fine, crisp white flesh.

✅ Very juicy, refreshing texture.

✅ Thin, pleasant-to-eat skin.

✅ Early production within the first few years.

✅ Early September harvest.

✅ Reportedly good hardiness, of interest for cold regions.

✅ An excellent dessert pear for lovers of crisp fruit.

⚠️ Points to consider

• Requires a second compatible pear tree for pollination.

• Heavy crops can overload young branches.

• Thinning is recommended to maintain good fruit size.

• Branches can break under the fruit's weight.

• Asian pears bruise easily and must be handled gently.

• A sunny location encourages better eating quality.

🌱 Why choose China Green pear?

China Green is an unusual Asian variety distinguished by exceptionally large fruit, beautiful apple-green colour, and fine, very crisp white flesh. Its juicy, refreshing texture makes it excellent to eat immediately after harvest.

Its reported hardiness and early bearing also make it an interesting cultivar for diversifying a home orchard.

A spectacular, crisp, refreshing Asian pear with surprising size and colour!