I am compiling a list of pears that I want to add next year. I am trying to avoid bare root trees if possible. I found a local pear tree called a diamond pear. I can not find any information on this site or any site on the Internet about this pear . The only information I have about it was from a Mississippi extension service recommendation for Trial Planting bulletin. It mentions “no evidence of fire blight , large pear ripens late summer blooms in midseason.” I am zone 8B .
Would at least like to know chill hours and a better description before I take a chance.
Has anyone ever heard of this pear ?
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I found the extension bulletin online and a contact. Nothing else
Publication 966 (POD-08-21)
Good to preserve this one.
Reviewed by Eric Stafne, PhD, Extension/Research Professor, Coastal Research and Extension Center.
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Thanks that’s more than I found. May do a little more research on it.
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Just for clarification of everyone else reading this Fruit and Nut Recommendations for Mississippi | Mississippi State University Extension Service
" Pears
Pears grow in most areas of Mississippi. In the Southeast, pears should have some resistance to diseases such as fire blight and leaf spot. Unfortunately, most varieties that exhibit some degree of disease resistance are of poor quality and/or are small. Most pear varieties are self-incompatible (self-sterile), so plant at least two different varieties with similar blooming periods (early, middle, or late). Because of possible frost damage, only plant early-blooming, low-chill pears in extreme south Mississippi.
Most pear fruit attain a higher quality if picked several days before maturity and allowed to ripen off the tree at 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Kieffer—The most extensively grown pear in the South; this old variety has little resistance to fire blight and is poorly adapted. Considered an early to mid-bloomer, it may suffer late-frost damage. The Kieffer pear matures in late September or October. Rated good for preserves.
- Orient—This large-fruited, roundish pear ripens in mid-August to early September. The tree is vigorous and spreading, shows some resistance to fire blight, and is well-adapted throughout the state. The canning quality of the fruit is good. The blooming period is considered to be middle and late.
- Moonglow—This spur-type tree is vigorous, blooms late, and has good fire blight resistance. Fruit quality is good with a mild flavor, few grit cells, and soft flesh; good for canning. Fruit ripens in mid-August.
- Magness—This pear is rated high in quality but requires 5 to 6 years before fruit bearing begins. High resistance to fire blight. Ripens in late August. Does not produce good pollen.
- Ayers—Trees are vigorous, upright, and blight-resistant. The chilling requirement is high; recommended for North Mississippi only. Fruit is an attractive yellow with red blush and ripens in late July to early August. The blooming period is early.
- Le Conte—Adapted for northern and central Mississippi; good resistance to fire blight. Fruit is yellow with red blush. Excellent eating pear. Bloom period is early.
- Baldwin—An excellent variety for coastal areas because of its low cold requirement to break dormancy. The fruit is almost round and golden-yellow when ripe. Ripens in mid-October, and the blooming period is early.
- Maxine—Less resistance to fire blight than Magness or Moonglow. Trees are vigorous and upright. Maxine can be planted with Moonglow or Magness for cross-pollination. It ripens in mid-September between Orient and Kieffer. Fruit quality is fair to good.
Local Selection Recommended for Trial Planting
- Cox—Has been grown in the Lumberton-Poplarville area for 40 years and has never been known to fire blight. Excellent eating pear that ripens in September and blooms in midseason.
- Diamond—This vigorously growing tree has not shown evidence of fire blight. It produces extremely large, firm fruit, excellent for preserves, cooking, and canning. Ripens in late summer and blooms in midseason.
- Fan-Stil—This bell-shaped pear is a creamy yellow with a touch of pink or blush. Some say it is an improved Le Conte. The tree is vigorous, disease-resistant, and consistently produces large quantities of fruit. It is good for eating fresh and for cooking. Bloom period is midseason.
- Southern Queen—The true origin of this South Mississippi pear is unknown. Southern Queen produces fruit that is bell-shaped (true pear). One-pound fruit is not uncommon when fruit is thinned or in years of low fruit set. In most years fruit set is good, and the fruit is comparable in size to Bartlett or Kieffer. The fruit ripens in August and becomes very mellow at full maturity. The color of the fruit skin is a striking russet or bronzy brown. The flesh is creamy yellow with an excellent texture for eating. The Southern Queen has never been known to have fire blight and may be highly resistant as evidenced by the 60-year-old trees still in existence and bearing. Bloom period is early to midseason.
- Walt—The parent tree appears to be small-growing. It produces small fruit that is edible while immature (green) with a decent flavor and sweetness. The fruit matures in late July and August, becoming mellow and soft-fleshed as it matures. When fully ripened, it is most suitable for eating fresh and for making jams and jellies, but it is not suitable for making preserves. During its 40-plus years, the tree has not shown evidence of fire blight or leaf spot diseases. The bloom period is considered early.
- Warren—Discovered in Hattiesburg by T. O. Warren, it is a pear with the quality of Magness, Comice, or Seckel. It appears to be very resistant to blight but also takes several years to come into bearing.
Asian Pear Varieties
Sometimes called pear apples, Asian pears are round and as crisp as apples, but also juicy and flavorful. All Asian pears listed require pollinizers, and they pollinate each other. Most European pear varieties also pollinate Asian pears. They are not as winter-hardy as regular pear varieties.
- Hosui—An attractive fruit with a golden russet skin. The flesh is firm, juicy, and mild, with good quality.
- Chojuro—Large, round fruit; partially self-fruitful. The skin color is russet to brown-orange. Fruit is sweet and spicy, and the tree is highly productive.
- Seuri—Round-shaped Chinese pear. Skin is unusual—a yellow undercolor with a mottled partial russetting. Flesh is bright white with good, crisp texture; aromatic with a floral, sweet flavor. Fruit quality is good, and size is large to very large.
- Twentieth Century (Nijiseiki)—The medium-to-large fruit has very smooth greenish-yellow skin and creamy white flesh that is juicy and aromatic. The tree is upright and productive"
p0966_1.pdf (390.3 KB)
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Hood and Bell should be on that list. As we have discussed recently, Fan-stil is just another name for Le Conte.
Hood is about 150 chill hours so good for gulf coast mostly. Bell appears to be closer to 500 chill hours though not yet proven. It would probably be good from Jackson to North Mississippi.
I did not have Diamond in the pear database so just added it now. I suspect Kieffer is involved in parentage based on description. If we can find a source for scionwood, I’d like to get it for trial. Maybe @Mayhaw9999 knows something about it.
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Yes, I would like to add a lot to my list. The problem is I’ve had no luck with bare roots trees .The number of varieties of apples and pears that the local wholesale nurseries deliver to the retail nurseries is dismal to say the least . I did find a nursery about 100 miles away last year. The nursery actually gets a tractor-trailer load of bare roots and brands them with their own name . Plants them in a field for a while then digs them up and sells them retail. Even after a year after me planting them they’re really not up to the quality of the wholesale nurseries or even the big box stores . However, at this point that looks like my only option if I want to plant different varieties . By the way, the nursery is around Jackson and that is the nursery that is listing the diamond pear as a product . I think the nursery gets the bare root trees from either Alabama or Georgia, but not certain .
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What is the name of the nursery?
It should be fairly easy to get some rootstocks and graft your own trees in 5 gallon containers. Just need a source of scionwood.
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Hutto’s Home and Garden center
1320 Ellis Avenue
Jackson, Ms
601 973 2277
They list diamond as one of their trees, but who knows if it will be there in February when I go. Thanks.
Great video and Great information really helpful thanks
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I show that @scottfsmith had Southern Queen at one time. Scott, could you comment re growing and fireblight?
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I have a graft of Southern Queen that is 3 years old on a Carrick tree. It has two pears this year. They did not seem ready to pick when I picked Carrick yesterday. I do fairly severe summer pruning but should have a few buds to share this winter.
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Sorry I do not know anything about Daimond.
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I sent an email to Eric Stafne asking for a source of scionwood for Diamond, Cox, and Walt. Awaiting reply.
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Thanks for the generous offer. I am 70 years old, but a total newbie. I’ve done a decent job getting good nursery trees, and keeping them alive. However, grafting and doing all the things that you guys do just not up to it. That’s why I asked about the diamond. It was one of the trees that I could actually get locally in a pot. I got two bare root trees year before last and totally failed on both of them. I am going to try the diamond next year can’t hurt .
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Eric Stafne replied that he does not know of a source for Cox, Diamond, and Walt. Finding someone growing them is the best chance of getting scions.
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I’m not sure hood and Bell will do great in Mississippi that is the toughest climate. They might , but i’m not confident. We know warren does great there!
Your very welcome! Glad we could help out.
Not me… either that or my memory is fading faster than I even thought.
For the OP if you want potted plants Just Fruits and Exotics sells great potted trees by mail-order. The shipping is expensive but I have had very good luck with them getting established. They are in Florida so are good with the southern varieties.
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Justfruitsandexotics has these:
Acres Home - Not on MSUE list but highly recommended for general climate
Chojuro
Hood - Not on MSUE but highly recommended for general climate
Le Conte
Orient
Southern Queen
Clark, Hood is a recommended variety for south Georgia which has very similar climate to Bdav. Bell would not work that far south but should be fine in north Mississippi.
Bdav, please look up Southern Queen on this forum and see what coolmantoole wrote about adapted varieties. Several of his best varieties should be good choices for you.
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They have fireblight like nothing most people have ever seen. Had a friend that lived there.
Hood is a great pear in most climates that has some fireblight resistance. I’ve grown lots of pears. Kansas has had bad fireblight in recent years. Mississippi makes Kansas fireblight look easy to control.
That is great I did not know about justfruitsandexotics.That sounds like it would work for me. I will look at all suggestions I really appreciate it all this information, I’m sure I can find four trees that will work for me. I will have to pass on the Asian pears . I do have a fire blight problem. My Housi and Chojuro bare root trees didn’t last three months . I’m not saying that Fireblight got to them I really did not know why they died. All I know is they both died and set me back a year. So now that you guys have given me so many good suggestions I really don’t have to take another chance . Thanks
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