Do All Pear Trees Bloom?

Wrong Climate

• Sometimes gardeners plant the wrong cultivar for the local climate. While the trees may appear sturdy and leafy, flowering is unlikely. Pear trees that don't tolerate extreme cold won't grow well in North Dakota. Summercrisp, Parker and Gourmet are the only fruit pear trees that succeed on the chilly northern prairies, according to North Dakota State University. Conversely, some cultivars need a long period of chilly nights during winter dormancy and won't thrive in warm southern areas, such as Louisiana. It is a good idea to seek suggestions about cultivar selection from your local agricultural extension service.

Dormancy and Chill Hours

• Deciduous trees and perennial plants go dormant during at least part of winter. To succeed at growing buds and blossoming, many fruit trees require a certain number of "chilling hours" during dormancy when temperatures are 45 degrees F or less. If the chilling hour requirement isn't met before the warm season arrives, the tree will only leaf out, according to the Williamson Nursery website. So when deciding which fruiting or ornamental pear trees to choose, it is necessary to know whether the number of chilling hours a cultivar needs is possible locally.

Soil Problems

• Most fruit trees access soil nutrients more easily when growing in acidic soils. Texas A&M University says pear trees do best in a soil that has a pH measurement between 6 and 6.5. A pH number tells how close or far a soil is from the neutral measurement of 7, which means soil chemistry is perfectly balanced between acidity and alkalinity. Garden plants and trees generally prefer mildly acid soil. North Dakota is difficult for pear trees not only because of extreme winter temperatures but also due to alkaline soil.

  Another soil problem that can keep a pear tree from blooming is soil that contains too much nitrogen. Over-fertilizing can lead to trees that grow well but don't blossom and fruit, according to North Dakota State University (NDSU).

Yard Placement

• Fruit and ornamental pear trees need full sunlight and warmth. If placed in the coldest part of the yard, NDSU says, it is possible they won't bloom. The University of Rhode Island notes that even if it doesn't eliminate flowering, inadequate sunlight can delay it and limit a tree's fruit production. It also adds that planting fruit trees where the roots of other trees and large shrubs compete for water and nutrients can stunt growth.