Asian pear, Chinese pear, Nashi, Sand plum, Sand pear
Pyrus pyrifolia

Family: Rosaceae

What it is like

A medium sized tree. It grows 15 m high and spreads 9 m wide. The leaves are oblong and have teeth along the edge. The leaves turn orange and bronze in the autumn. The flowers are small and white. They appear almost the same time as the leaves. The fruit is round and the size of an apple. The skin is thin. They can be green, yellow or bronze. They have a gritty texture. Some forms have larger, softer fruit. These cultivated forms may be crosses between Pyrus pyrifolia and Pyrus ussuriensis. These are oval and yellow with a crisp texture.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. In Vietnam it is cultivated in the northern highlands between 1,000 and 1,500 m altitude. It needs 300-800 hours of cold below 7°C each year. They are hardy to frost. They will grow on most soils. In Hobart Botanical gardens. In XTBG Yunnan. It suits hardiness zones 4-9. In Sichuan and Yunnan. Arboretum Tasmania.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Brazil, Central Asia, China, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Malaysia, New Zealand, North America, Pakistan, Philippines, SE Asia, South America, Taiwan, Tajikistan,Tasmania, Thailand, USA, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten raw. They are also poached, baked or coated with honey. They are canned and processed into fruit nectar and preserves.

It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Fruit, flowers

How it is grown

Plants are grown by grafting. Plants can be grown from seed.

Trees bear in 3-4 years.

Its other names

Local names

Desi nakh, Dolbaenamu, Korean pear, Japanese pear, Le, Nashpati, Salad pear, Oriental pear, Sha li, Pae, Pera-nashi

Synonyms

Pyrus serotina Rehder; Pyrus sinensis Auct. mult. non Poir, nec Lindl.; Ficus pyrifolia Burm.f.;