The Nijisseiki pear is one of the most popular Asian pear varieties in the United States. It’s a dessert cultivar that produces medium to large round pears with smooth yellow skin in late summer to early fall. The fruit is crisp and mildly sweet. Nijisseiki is self-fruitful, but can be pollinated by another variety with the same bloom period, such as Bartlett or Shinseiki. This cultivar is cold hardy, drought tolerant, and heat tolerant, making it an excellent choice for milder climates.

Characteristics:

• Hardiness zones 5 to 9
• Standard tree grows 10 to 15 feet tall with a 10- to 12-foot spread
• Good for dessert
• Common names: Pear “Nijisseiki,” Nijisseiki Asian Pear, Pyrus pyrifolia “20^th Century,” Twentieth Century Asian Pear

Have you grown Nijisseiki pears? Are they easy to tend and harvest? Please tell us about your experiences growing Nijisseiki pears.