General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Tree
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Full Sun to Partial Shade
Water Preferences: Mesic
Leaves: Deciduous
Fruit: Showy
Edible to birds
Fruiting Time: Summer
Flowers: Showy
Flower Color: White
Bloom Size: 1"-2"
Flower Time: Spring
Underground structures: Taproot
Uses: Flowering Tree
Edible Parts: Fruit
Eating Methods: Raw
Cooked
Wildlife Attractant: Bees
Butterflies
Resistances: Drought tolerant
Pollinators: Various insects

Image
Common names
  • Common Pear
  • European Pear
Also sold as:
  • Beurre Clairgeau

Photo Gallery

Date: c. 1921
illustration from Hedrick's 'Pears of New York', 1921

Date: c. 1895
illustration from 'L'Illustration horticole', 1895

Date: c. 1867
illustration from 'The Florist and Pomologist', 1867
Location: 3 pear varieties, clockwise from top right: 'Beurré Clairgeau' (1); 'Fertility' (3); 'Prémices de Marie Lesueur' (2)
Date: c.1893
illustration from 'L'Illustration horticole', 1893

credit: Poupou l'quourouce
Uploaded by robertduval14
Comments:
  • Posted by scvirginia on Feb 13, 2019 12:36 AM concerning plant:
    From Gustave Michels book, 50 Poires d'élite, via 'L'Illustration horticole, 1895, pp. 114-5:
    Beurré Clairgeau. — Ceci est une magnifique poire de dessert. Elle est toujours belle, séduisante, même comme aspect, avec son épiderme d'un beau rouge. C'est de plus, un fruit très gros, allongé et bien fait. Seulement ce n'est pas la meilleure, pas même une de nos meilleures poires! Cependant, dans un terrain chaud, sablonneux, calcaire ou schisteux, sa chair devient fine, succulente, très juteuse et se parfume même un peu. Ce n'est que dans les terrains froids et humides qu'elle n'offre pas toutes les qualités désirables. L'amateur de fruits peut hardiment admettre cette variété dans sa collection, mais il aura soin de la placer de préférence en espalier à bonne exposition. Il est cependant possible d'avoir des résultats réguliers en la cultivant aussi sous les formes de pyramide et de fuseau, qui présentent toujours une belle végétation et un beau port.
    La Beurré Clairgeau va bien sur franc de semis, et mal sur coignassier.
    Ce beau Beurré mûrit à la fin d'automne, commencent de l'hiver.

    English Translation:
    Beurré Clairgeau. — This is a magnificent dessert pear. It is always appealing and seductive, even in appearance, with its beautiful red skin. It is also quite a large fruit, elongated and well-formed. Only it's not the best, not even one of our best pears! However, in terrains that are hot, sandy, calcareous or schistous, its flesh becomes fine, succulent, very juicy and somewhat fragrant. It is only in cold, wet terrains that it does not offer all these desirable qualities. The fruit lover may dare to add this variety to his collection, but should take care with its placement; preferably treating it as an espalier with good exposure. However, it is also possible to have consistent results by cultivating it in a pyramid or spindle form, which will always display fine foliage and an attractive habit.
    Beurré Clairgeau does well grafted on seedlings, but badly on quinces.
    This beautiful Beurré ripens at the end of autumn or start of winter.

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