Item Synonyms Description
20th Century Also known as Nijisseki - This is the best flavored and most popular Asian pear in Japan and California. It originated in Japan in about 1900 and was responsible for the high popularity of pears in Japan. It is round, yellow-skinned, easily bruised, but stores well up to six months. The fruit is more difficult to size than other varieties. It should not be grown on P. Communis rootstock because it is badly dwarfed. The fruit ripens in mid-August. It grows well on P. betulaefolia, P. calleryana, and P. serotina. Old trees need spur removal and rejuvenating pruning to maintain fruit size.
Arirang Large, Orange-brown asian pear. Very sweet and juicy, crisp, firm. Stores up to 6 months.
Atago Produces an extra large, noticeably sweet and juicy fruit with golden brown skin. Moderately vigorous growth habit, but very productive. Will fruit and sweeten in cooler summer locations. Enormous size compared with other Asian Pears.
Autumn Sweet Autumn Sweet is a golden orange russetted pear. Medium to large in size with a slightly roughened skin, Autumn Sweet is very sweet and juicy.
Chojuro An old, firm, brown-to orange-skinned, flat-shaped, highly productive variety is losing popularity because it is not as juicy as many newer varieties. It matures in mid-August, bruises easily but stores for five months. It must be picked when first yellow-brown in color or fruit is subject to severe bruising and skin discoloration.
Hosui A very large, juicy, sweet, low acid, bronze-skinned pear that ripens in early August. The tree is extremely vigorous on P. Betulaefolia and has a wild, loose growth habit. This is a very popular new variety in Japan and California. It is usually very susceptible to fire blight.
Ichiban Nashi An early maturing, large, brown fruit ripening in mid-July ahead of Shinseiki, Shinsui and Kosui. Fruit appears to have tender skin subject to injury during harvest and packing.
Ishiiwase Large, greenish-brown, russeted skin. Juicy, sweet, flavorful, refreshing, crisp like an apple when ripe. Early to mid-August in Central CA. 450 hours. Pollenized by Kikusui, 20th Century, or other Asian pear.
Kikusui A flat, yellow-green, medium - sized fruit with excellent flavor but a reputation for having tender skin and poor color. It ripens in mid-August but fruit has preharvest drop problems.
Kosui A small, flat, bronze russet, early maturing, sweet fruit with a tender skin that ripens in mid-July. A strong growing tree with leaves sensitive to 2-spot spider mites and many sprays.
Niitaka A very large, firm, brown-russet fruit. It is noted for its large size, average flavor and high production. The tree is dwarfed severely on P. communis and vigorous on P. betulaefolia. Fruit ripens in early September and stores two months. The flowers are pollen-sterile but it sets well when cross-pollinated with most varieties.
Okolo Very high sugar content
Okusankichi This is an old Korean and Japanese variety that ripens in October and stores well. The fruit is brown-russet, somewhat elongated and slightly irregular in shape. At harvest it has only fair flavor, but flavor improves in storage
Olympic Also known as Korean Giant, Large Korean, or Dan Beh. Large Orange-bronze, Russeted pear with white flesh. Sweet with earthy flavor, crisp, juicy. Stores up to 6 months.
Seigyoku Large fruit, smooth yellow skin. Very best quality - juicy, sweet, flavorful, crisp like an apple. Blooms later than Shinseiki and 20th Century. Ripe a few days before 20th Century. 500 hours. Partly self-fruitful or plant with Kikusui, 20th Century, or Bartlett.
Seuri Crisp, sweet and aromatic. A Chinese variety and one of the most flavorful of all the Asian Pears. Seuri Asian Pear reliably produces abundant crops of golden brown fruit, which ripen in mid to late September.
Seuri The delicious round large fruit has a beautiful bright orange color. The exceptionally attractive tree originates in China. It is very vigorous and productive. The aromatic fruit ripens in mid-October and has a bubble gum flavor to it. It is fireblight resistant.
Shinko The fruit is large and round to slightly flattened with a beautiful bronze-russet skin. Fruit flavor is excellent in hot climates but the fruit stores poorly and tree growth and vigor decline severely as the tree ages. It is very upright in growth habit. The tree is well shaped and extremely productive. It matures during the first week of September and appears to be nearly resistant to fire blight.
Shin Li Excellent quality crisp, sweet, and juicy yellowish green round fruit ripens in September and is known to keep well. The large fruit is fine grained, aromatic and considered one of the best. Vigorous heavy bearing tree is fireblight resistant. Originated in Davis, CA by Ben Iwakiri.Hardy in Zone 5-9.
Shinsieki A round, yellow skinned, firm fruit that is early-maturing (late July) plus it stores well up to three months. In appearance it resembles 20th Century but is larger in size. Fruit holds on the tree well and is often color-picked four times per season.
Shinsui An early maturing, brown fruit with reasonable size, ripening in mid-July after Ichiban Nashi and before Shinseiki. Tree is extremely vigorous requiring special training to spread the tree shape.
Sweet 'N' Sour Sweet 'N' Sour was developed by Virginia Gold Orchard and is superior to most of the traditional varieties developed in Asia. It is green to yellow in color, with smooth skin. The flesh is white, firm, crisp, very juicy, and sweet with lots of flavors. Will keep in the refrigerator crisper up to 4 months.
Tennosui Assumed to be a chance cross of TENN (also known as Tennessee pear) and Hosui pear. Crisp, bell-shaped fruit matures late July to Early August and is very productive. Cut fruit remains crisp and tasty and is slow to oxidize. Shows resistance to fire blight. 150-450 hrs. Self-fruitful.
Tsu Li Also known as Tse Li. A large, football-shaped, green fruit of only fair quality. It has long storage life (six to ten months) and gets better the longer it is stored. The fruit ripens in early to mid-September and develops a greasy feel on the skin. It must be pollinated by Ya Li.
Ya Li A popular Chinese variety, is pear-shaped, has green skin and is quite tender to bruising. It is an early blooming variety that needs cross-pollination by other early flowering varieties like Tsu Li and Seuri. The flavor is sweet and milder than other varieties. It is the most important pear variety in China. It stores well.
Yoinashi A large, brown-skinned fruit with excellent flavor. It ripens in mid-August with 20th Century but sizes much better.