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Pyrus pyrifolia

Asian Pear · Chinese Pear · Oriental Pear Tree

Family RosaceaeGenus Pyrus

A round russet-gold pear beside one cut in half, showing white flesh and two dark seeds in the core, against white.
FruitJJ Harrison (jjharrison89@facebook.com)CC BY-SA 3.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
TreeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
treePlants of the World Online
Height
20-40 ft6-12 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
16-40 ft5-12 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
WhiteExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
SpringExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
China South-Central, China Southeast, Laos, VietnamGBIF Backbone Taxonomy
Hardiness zones
5-8Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sun; Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
Clay, Loam (Silt), SandExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good DrainageExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

  • Ground pears sweeten vinegar and soy sauce-based sauces, and their enzymes tenderize meat in marinades, notably for the Korean bulgogi. Wikipedia: Pyrus pyrifolia

This source reports two treatments. Both are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1998

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around January 18, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

    1/3 germinated in this phase.

Steps after step 1 run on after germination.

Germination happens during step 1, in 77 days.

67% germination in 63–77 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Pyrus p. 57Public domain
Show the original text
Pyrus (Rosaceae). P. pyrifolia germ. 70D-40(1/3 in 12th w)-70D(1/3 on 3rd d) and 40(2/3 in 9-11 w)- 70D(1/3 on 2nd d).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Pyrus p. 57. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1998

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around October 14, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on October 13, 2026.

  1. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  3. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

    1/3 germinated in this phase.

Steps after step 2 run on after germination.

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2, in 84 days.

33% germination in 84 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Pyrus p. 57Public domain
Show the original text
Pyrus (Rosaceae). P. pyrifolia germ. 70D-40(1/3 in 12th w)-70D(1/3 on 3rd d) and 40(2/3 in 9-11 w)- 70D(1/3 on 2nd d).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Pyrus p. 57. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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