Pyrus communis ‘Conference, Doyenne du Comice, Glou Morceau’

Pyrus communis ‘Conference, Doyenne du Comice, Glou Morceau’ flower (04/04/2011, London)

Position: Full sun, will tolerate partial shade

Soil: Moist but well drained

Flowering period: Early spring

Eventual Height: Varies with rootstock

Eventual Spread: Varies with rootstock

Hardiness: 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a (may be altered depending on the stock used in grafting)

Family: Rosaceae

This tree created by grafting three leafing stocks onto a rootstock giving the tree mixed traits. Its overall height and spread is determined by the combination and the separate parts of the canopy will bear different fruit. All three pears are desert pears of the deciduous communis species. The leaves are alternately arranged and simple. The flowers are white, and have five petals. Like that of the related apple, the pear fruit is a pome.

The different cultivars used in this specimen are:

• ‘Conference’, which is a heavy cropping reliable tree with long, yellowish green fruits with firm, creamy-white flesh suitable for harvest in early winter. It is the most popular pear grown in Britain in both the garden and commercial orchards. Unlike most commercial cultivars of Pyrus it was not a chance seedling, but bred specifically and introduced in the 1885 ‘Pear Conference’ by Thomas Rivers  at his family nursery in Sawbridgeworth in Hertfordshire. It has been given the prestigious Award of Garden Merit by the RHS. Although it is self-fertile another pollinating pear tree will increase the size and number of the yield. It also prefers a sheltered south or west facing position.
• ‘Doyenne du Comice’, which is a dwarf cultivar suited to potted fruit production, rarely growing taller than 2m. It produces a sweet white-fleshed pome tasting similar to ‘Conference’ and will fruit in early winter. It was introduced from France in 1849 and gained the Award of Garden Merit in 2002. It will require a pollinator, as it is self-sterile although it is recommended by the RHS to be an excellent attractant and nectar source for bees and other beneficial insects. The variety ‘Concorde’ makes a good pollination partner.
• ‘Glou Morceau’, which comes in season in early winter with sweet white flesh and skin a pale dull olive green, a little inclining to yellow, and covered with numerous grey russetty specks. The Abbe of Mons, M. Hardenpont, raised this pear from seed about 1750 in his garden at Mons, Belgium. The variety was introduced into France in 1806 by Louis Noisette, who had found it in the gardens of the Due d’Arenberg and finally mad it to England when in 1820, M. Parmentier of Enghien, Belgium, sent it to England under the name Glou Morceau. . It will require a pollinator, as it is self-sterile.

Pyrus communis ‘Conference, Doyenne du Comice, Glou Morceau’ (04/04/2011, London)

The etymological root of the binomial name Pyrus is the classical name for the pear tree. Communis is from the Latin meaning ‘common’. ‘Conference’ is after the 1885 ‘Pear Conference’ where it was introduced; ‘Doyenne du Comice’ is after the term ‘comice agricole’, it stood for a group of farmers dedicated to improving farming methods. The variety was bred by the ‘Comice Horticole de Maine et Loire’ of Angers in France; ‘Glou Morceau’ is an amalgamation of two languages, glou, in the Walloon language, which means ‘delicious or dainty’ and morceau from the French meaning ‘morsel or bit’.

Pyrus communis can be useful to the landscape architect in community garden schemes as it will bear three types of fruit in a relatively small space.

Ecologically, Pyrus communis will attract pollinating insects with its nectar and pollen, with its fruit also attracting birds and mammals.

Pyrus communis prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil.

Pyrus communis will require different methods of pruning depending on the stock used as well as how it is grown. Useful tips on the care of pear trees can be found here.