Pyrus 'D'Anjou' (Pear)

D'Anjou is the late-fall European pear with smooth green skin (a red sport also exists), buttery sweet flesh, and exceptional storage life, often holding into spring under proper refrigeration. A grocery-shelf staple for good reason.

European pears bloom in April and harvest from August through October on the Oregon coast. They are picked firm and ripened off the tree, which is the key handling difference from apple. Most cultivars need a cross-pollinator from the same bloom group. Self-fertile selections still bear better with a partner.

Fire blight is the disease to watch on European pears in the maritime PNW. Prune in dry summer weather, sterilize tools between cuts, and remove blighted wood promptly. Pear psylla and codling moth round out the major pest pressures. Pears are not deer-resistant, so cage young trees through establishment.

Native fruiting alternatives: If you're considering native fruiting alternatives that support PNW birds and ecology, look at Amelanchier alnifolia (Saskatoon), Vaccinium ovatum (Evergreen Huckleberry), Malus fusca (Pacific Crabapple), or Prunus virginiana (Choke Cherry). These provide bird food, pollinator support, and Indigenous food heritage in your landscape.