Elegant and productive, the D’Anjou pear tree, Pyrus communis ‘Anjou’, is a natural choice for any gardener wishing to be rewarded for their good work. Why? Because the flesh of the D’Anjou pear, which is sometimes called the Beurre D’Anjou after the French word for butter, is sweet, smooth, and indescribably delicious. The trees are very productive, putting out heavy crops of tasty fruit each year, and they’re attractive trees even when not heavy with fruit.
I. Appearance and Characteristics
A high-producer, Pyrus communis ‘Anjou’ is a multi-purpose cultivar with a profusion of fragrant, creamy white flowers in midseason (mid-spring). Draped in clusters along the branches, they are truly a sight to behold. They are followed in the fall by a heavy crop of medium to large, thin-skinned, rounded to short-necked, pale green pears with slight russeting. Their flesh has a buttery rich texture when ripe and has a fine flavor. They are perfect for eating, canning, and baking. They keep exceptionally well, with their best flavor realized when stored for 1-2 months.
Anjou is not self-fertile and requires pollination by a tree of another variety with the same bloom period such as Bartlett or Moonglow. The foliage of elliptic glossy green leaves turns pretty shades of red and yellow in fall. Anjou is an upright, vigorous pear tree that is moderately resistant to fireblight, one of the most serious diseases of pears. Beautiful in bloom, handsome in full leaf, heavy with luscious pears, attractive in fall, and picturesque in winter, pear trees are very rewarding additions to the landscape across the seasons.
II. How to Grow and Care
Sunlight
The D’Anjou pear tree thrives in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct light a day.
Watering and Fertilizing
Water your D’Anjou pear once a week unless you receive rainfall. If you’re not sure when to water, check the soil 2 inches below the surface. If it’s dry, give your tree a drink. Fertilize with a balanced, slow-release product designed for fruit trees and shrubs as per package directions in spring and throughout the growing season.
Pollination
The D’Anjou pear tree is not self-fertile, so pollinating insects will be unable to help the plant create fruit unless you plant another variety of pear near your D’Anjou. Good choices include the Bosc pear tree and the Bartlett pear tree.
Planting Instructions
Site your tree in soil that drains well and receives at least 6 hours of direct sunlight a day. Unpot your tree and tease out any encircling roots, which can girdle the tree and slowly kill it. Leave the roots soaking in a bucket of water while you dig the hole, which should be as deep as the root ball and two to three times as wide. Place the tree in the hole, spreading out the roots. Holding it upright and steady, fill in around it with topsoil, tamping down as you go to eliminate air pockets. Water thoroughly. Apply a 2- to 3-inch layer of organic mulch such as bark chips around the root zone to conserve moisture and hinder weed growth, but keep it from touching the trunk, which can encourage rot.
Pruning
Prune your tree in late winter, before the buds break. Pears are best pruned to a central leader — a single strong vertical branch from which other lateral limbs branch off. The lateral branches should be spaced 4-6 inches apart and be more horizontal than vertical. Always prune back to a bud, using a 45-degree angled cut. You may also prune out some of the fruit if it is spaced closely together to allow the remaining fruit to grow to size. In addition, prune out any dead, diseased or damaged limbs whenever you see them.
Propagation
Propagate by grafting or chip budding onto a clonal rootstock for fruit; quince rootstocks are usually used. The rootstock used will largely determine the vigor.
Pests and Diseases
Pests that may appear on your D’Anjou pear tree include scale insects, leafrollers and aphids. Consider releasing beneficial insects such as lacewings and ladybugs to help control insect populations. You may also use horticultural oils or insecticides to eliminate them, but these should be a last resort. Diseases of the pear include crown gall, leaf spot and fire blight, though D’Anjou is somewhat resistant to the latter. Diseases have a harder time attacking your tree if you keep it healthy, so be diligent in feeding, watering and pruning to keep disease at bay.
III. Harvesting and Storage
Pears can be picked while they are still unripe and left in a cool spot to ripen. It’s time to pick them when they turn green-yellow in color and a few of them begin to drop off the tree. They should come off the branches easily at this point. D’Anjou pears may keep for several months, and, in fact, the flavor improves over time. Store them in a humid spot with a temperature of 32-40 degrees Fahrenheit, checking them weekly for spoilage.
