What Is an Asian Pear a Cross Between?

Origin

• Asian pear trees originated in Japan, China and other countries in Asia, where they have been cultivated for thousands of years. Asian immigrants brought the trees to North America in the 1800s, and their cultivation began in western and northwestern U.S. The Asian pear tree is a hybrid that originated from crosses made between two types of pears, the Ussuri pear (Pyrus ussuriensis) and a type of hard pear called the Japanese sand pear (Pyrus pyrfolia). Asian pears are noted for their crispness and sweet flavor, which differs slightly among the many modern varieties.

Varieties

• Today, many different varieties of Asian pears are available for a home orchard, generally growing in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 through 9. They are generally divided into two groups, the Japanese type that has round fruits, and the Chinese type, with fruits that are more pear-shaped. Chinese varieties include "Ya Li," with green-skinned, sweet-flavored fruits that ripen from late August into September, and "Tsu Li," which has crisp, juicy pears in September or October. Japanese cultivars include "20th Century," a heavy-bearing, self-fruitful variety with crisp fruits ripening in August, and "Shinseiki," an early-ripening variety that has fruit ready to pick in late July.

Site Selection and Spacing

• Asian pears do best in a location not subject to late spring frosts, which can injure flower buds and prevent setting of fruit. Siting a tree near a south- or west-facing building wall can help shelter it from late spring cold spells in areas prone to these weather conditions. You can also minimize the danger of cold damage by planting the tree on a hillside, where cold air drains away to lower portions of the slope. Although some cultivars are self-fruitful, planting several varieties that bloom at similar times allows cross-pollination, which can increase yields. When planting several trees, space them 10 to 15 feet apart to prevent crowding when trees mature to their final height of about 20 feet.

Sun and Fertilizer

• An Asian pear tree prefers a site in full sun, but can also do well in a spot that gets a few hours of shade each day. It grows best when fertilized twice each year, first in spring before new growth begins and again after fruit is set. Scatter fertilizer at the tree's drip line, using about 1/2 cup of a granular, 10-10-10 formula for each year of tree age, with a maximum of 8 cups per tree. If fruit set is poor, the tree may have too much leafy growth; in this case, eliminate the second application for that year and resume twice-yearly applications the following season.