Is Fragrant pear (Korla) the same as Xinjiang Fragrant pear

General Fruit Growing
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Well, my XinJiang Fragrant pear died because the tree I grafted it to, died last spring.

My question: Is Fragrant pear (Korla) the same as Xinjiang Fragrant pear. AI says they are the same.

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They are not. Xinjiang fragrant pear is the primitive one. Korla is an improvement.

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My impression is Korla is one particular kind which is not a recent improvement, it is very old. Xinjiang pear often is referring to that kind so it’s often the same thing. But it can also mean the general category of crosses (Pyrus x sinkiangensis) that are grown in Xinjiang province. Clear as mud, eh? In either case getting the Korla pear should be fine. I personally think the Yulu fragrant pear is even better than Korla so consider that one as well.

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Yes Korla is an old improvement, not recent. Yulu is more recent and considered one of the best chinese pears.

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what do you mean by primitive? I grafted Korla last spring.

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I mean older variety. Xinjiang fragrant pear is the oldest variety, then Korla and Yulu is next. But there are newest varieties than Yulu.

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So XInjiang pear is not the same as Korla?

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No its not.

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If someone is selling a pear under either of those two names it is very likely the exact same pear. But the names can mean different things in contexts other than selling them.

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In China they are diferent varieties.

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My Xinjiang that died, I bought from Fruitwood.

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Korla is 1000+ years old, there is no older variety. Xinjiang is not necessarily one variety, it is either used as a synonym for Korla or may refer to the species as a whole. One source of the confusion is to sell a pear as “Korla” it needs to be certified, it can only be grown in a few districts etc. When the same variety is grown outside of the official jurisdiction they may be sold as just fragrant pear or as Xinjiang pear. Even though it’s the exact same variety. It is similar to how Champagne has to be from the Champagne district in France to have that word on the label.

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I thought Korla was sowewhat recent… i will hask my Chinese friend. But Im sure they are diferent.