Plant Details

Pyrus communis

Pear

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Common names

47 names · 33 languages
EnglishYour language
Other languages (32)
Dutch
French
  • Poire
  • Poirier commun[1]
Afrikaans
Arabic
  • إجاص أوروبي[1]
  • كمثرى[1]
  • كمثرى أوروبي[1]
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • كمثرى شائعة[1]
Belarusian
  • Груша звычайная[1]
Bulgarian
  • Питомна круша[1]
Catalan
Cherokee
  • ᏎᏗᏳᏍᏗ[1]
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Czech
  • hrušeň obecná[1]
Danish
Estonian
  • harilik pirnipuu[1]
Finnish
  • satopäärynäpuu[1]
German
Hebrew
  • אגס תרבותי[1]
Hungarian
  • Nemes körte[1]
Italian
Japanese
  • セイヨウナシ[1]
  • 洋なし[1]
  • 洋ナシ[1]
+1 more nameShow fewer names
Korean
  • 서양배나무[1]
Kurdish
  • هەرمێ[1]
Lithuanian
  • Paprastoji kriaušė[1]
Polish
  • Grusza pospolita[1]
Portuguese
  • Pereira[1]
  • pêra-européia[1]
  • pêra-manteigosa[1]
Russian
  • Груша обыкновенная[1]
Slovak
  • hruška obyčajná[1]
Slovenian
  • navadna hruška[1]
Spanish
Swedish
Turkish
Ukrainian
  • Груша звичайна[1]
Welsh
  • Coeden ellyg[1]
Sources & name notes (1)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Pyrus communis — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Common Pear — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 63951; Pyrus communis.
  • European Pear — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 63951; Pyrus communis.
  • Peral — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 63951; Pyrus communis.
  • Pear — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 63951; Pyrus communis.
  • Pereira — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 63951; Pyrus communis.
  • Poirier commun — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 63951; Pyrus communis.
  • Kultur-Birne — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 63951; Pyrus communis.
  • Birnbaum — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 63951; Pyrus communis.
  • Grusza pospolita — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 63951; Pyrus communis.
  • hrušeň obecná — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 63951; Pyrus communis.
  • Pære — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 63951; Pyrus communis.
  • Peer — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 63951; Pyrus communis.
  • Груша обыкновенная — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 63951; Pyrus communis.
  • Pero — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 63951; Pyrus communis.
  • satopäärynäpuu — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 63951; Pyrus communis.
  • Paprastoji kriaušė — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 63951; Pyrus communis.
  • セイヨウナシ — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 63951; Pyrus communis.
  • Perera — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 63951; Pyrus communis.
  • harilik pirnipuu — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 63951; Pyrus communis.
  • Pera — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 63951; Pyrus communis.
  • كمثرى أوروبي — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 63951; Pyrus communis.
  • كمثرى — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 63951; Pyrus communis.
  • كمثرى شائعة — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 63951; Pyrus communis.
  • إجاص أوروبي — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 63951; Pyrus communis.
  • 西洋梨 — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 63951; Pyrus communis.
  • päron — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 63951; Pyrus communis.
  • 西洋梨 — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 63951; Pyrus communis.
  • armut — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 63951; Pyrus communis.
  • Питомна круша — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 63951; Pyrus communis.
  • navadna hruška — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 63951; Pyrus communis.
  • Груша звычайная — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 63951; Pyrus communis.
  • Груша звичайна — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 63951; Pyrus communis.
  • peer — results[0].names[34]; taxon id 63951; Pyrus communis.
  • hruška obyčajná — results[0].names[35]; taxon id 63951; Pyrus communis.
  • Nemes körte — results[0].names[36]; taxon id 63951; Pyrus communis.
  • 서양배나무 — results[0].names[37]; taxon id 63951; Pyrus communis.
  • 洋梨 — results[0].names[38]; taxon id 63951; Pyrus communis.
  • 洋梨 — results[0].names[39]; taxon id 63951; Pyrus communis.
  • 洋ナシ — results[0].names[40]; taxon id 63951; Pyrus communis.
  • 洋なし — results[0].names[41]; taxon id 63951; Pyrus communis.
  • pêra-manteigosa — results[0].names[42]; taxon id 63951; Pyrus communis.
  • pêra-européia — results[0].names[43]; taxon id 63951; Pyrus communis.
  • ᏎᏗᏳᏍᏗ — results[0].names[44]; taxon id 63951; Pyrus communis.
  • אגס תרבותי — results[0].names[45]; taxon id 63951; Pyrus communis.
  • هەرمێ — results[0].names[46]; taxon id 63951; Pyrus communis.
  • Coeden ellyg — results[0].names[47]; taxon id 63951; Pyrus communis.

General information

Scientific name: Pyrus communis
Accepted name (Kew): Pyrus communis L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [4]
Botanical family: Rosaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Pyrus (WCVP v16).

Sources [4]
Also known as: Pear
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Fruit tree
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 12.19–15.24 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Spread: 7.62–10.67 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Growth rate: Moderate
Foliage: Deciduous
Sources [3]
Growth habit: Erect, Spreading

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [3]
Soil moisture:
Moist, Well-drained

Preferred growing conditions. Moisture and drainage are different properties; well-drained soil is not necessarily dry.

Sources [1] [3]
Soil:
Clay, Loam (Silt), Sand
Sources [3]
pH:
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Sources [3]
Light:
Full sun
Sources [3]

Uses

Edible parts:
Fruit
Edibility rating:
(5)
Medicinal rating:
(2)
Functions:
Dye, Windbreak, Wood

Description

Pyrus communis is a deciduous fruit tree. Cultivars differ in fruit size, texture and suitability for fresh eating or cooking. In the UK, pears are normally picked before they are fully ripe and allowed to finish ripening in storage.

Sources [1] [2]

Harvest

Harvest starts: 15/08
Harvest ends: 15/10

Crown

Crown shape: Broad pyramidal
Crown density: Dense crown

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Horticultural Society Pyrus communis (F) | common pear
    Supports: DescriptionSoil moisture
    Relevant sections
    • Description: Description; Foliage; Cultivation; Potentially harmful, where applicable
    • Soil moisture: Growing conditions: Moisture; Cultivation

    Source checked on .

  2. Royal Horticultural Society How to Grow Pears
    Supports: Description
    Relevant sections
    • Description: Growing guide; choosing varieties, planting, harvesting and storing sections as applicable

    Source checked on .

  3. North Carolina State University Pyrus communis (Common Pear, European Pear, Pear) — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: Soil moistureHeightSpreadFoliageGrowth habitLightSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Soil moisture: Cultural Conditions: Soil Drainage
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 40 ft. 0 in. - 50 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 25 ft. 0 in. - 35 ft. 0 in.
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Light: Light
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .

  4. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 325731; name ID 2962753; Pyrus L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 327631; name ID 2963115; Pyrus communis L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.