Plant Details

Pyrus Pyrifolia

Chinese pear , Sand pear

Back

Explore the size, hardiness, soil, light, edible uses and harvest period of Pyrus Pyrifolia.

Use this plant

Log in to add this plant to your recipes.

Log in

Common names

43 names · 15 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Asian Pear[2]
  • Chinese pear
  • Sand pear[2]
Other languages (14)
Dutch
  • Aziatische peer
  • Nashipeer
  • Zandpeer
French
  • Poire asiatique
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Czech
  • hrušeň písečná[2]
German
  • Apfel-Birne[2]
  • Asiatische Birne[2]
  • Bapfel[2]
+6 more namesShow fewer names
  • Birpfel[2]
  • Chinesische Birne[2]
  • Japanische Birne[2]
  • Koreanische Birne[2]
  • Kumoi[2]
  • Nashi-Birne[2]
Hebrew
  • אגס אסייתי[2]
  • אגס נאשי[2]
Japanese
+5 more namesShow fewer names
Korean
  • 돌배나무[2]
  • 배나무[2]
Portuguese
  • pêra-arenosa[2]
  • pêra-asiática[2]
  • pêra-japonesa[2]
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • pêra-nashi[2]
Slovak
  • hruška hruškolistá[2]
Spanish
  • Peral asiático[2]
Ukrainian
  • Груша азійська[2]
Language not specified
  • Nashi[1]
  • Oriental Pear[1]
  • Orientalische Birne[1]
Sources & name notes (2)

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] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Pyrus pyrifolia (Burm.fil.) Nakai ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Nashi — VernacularName.tsv, line 172098; taxon 4QXBW.
  • Oriental Pear — VernacularName.tsv, line 172099; taxon 4QXBW.
  • Orientalische Birne — VernacularName.tsv, line 172100; taxon 4QXBW.
[2] Pyrus pyrifolia — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

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

Source records
  • Asian Pear — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 122783; Pyrus pyrifolia.
  • Peral asiático — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 122783; Pyrus pyrifolia.
  • Sand pear — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 122783; Pyrus pyrifolia.
  • 돌배나무 — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 122783; Pyrus pyrifolia.
  • hrušeň písečná — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 122783; Pyrus pyrifolia.
  • 砂梨 — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 122783; Pyrus pyrifolia.
  • 台灣鳥梨 — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 122783; Pyrus pyrifolia.
  • Nashi-Birne — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 122783; Pyrus pyrifolia.
  • Asiatische Birne — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 122783; Pyrus pyrifolia.
  • Chinesische Birne — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 122783; Pyrus pyrifolia.
  • Japanische Birne — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 122783; Pyrus pyrifolia.
  • Koreanische Birne — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 122783; Pyrus pyrifolia.
  • 沙梨 — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 122783; Pyrus pyrifolia.
  • ヤマナシ — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 122783; Pyrus pyrifolia.
  • 和梨 — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 122783; Pyrus pyrifolia.
  • ナシ — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 122783; Pyrus pyrifolia.
  • 배나무 — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 122783; Pyrus pyrifolia.
  • 和なし — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 122783; Pyrus pyrifolia.
  • 日本なし — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 122783; Pyrus pyrifolia.
  • 和ナシ — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 122783; Pyrus pyrifolia.
  • 日本ナシ — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 122783; Pyrus pyrifolia.
  • pêra-nashi — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 122783; Pyrus pyrifolia.
  • pêra-arenosa — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 122783; Pyrus pyrifolia.
  • pêra-asiática — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 122783; Pyrus pyrifolia.
  • pêra-japonesa — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 122783; Pyrus pyrifolia.
  • 砂梨 — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 122783; Pyrus pyrifolia.
  • Груша азійська — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 122783; Pyrus pyrifolia.
  • אגס נאשי — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 122783; Pyrus pyrifolia.
  • אגס אסייתי — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 122783; Pyrus pyrifolia.
  • hruška hruškolistá — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 122783; Pyrus pyrifolia.
  • 日本梨 — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 122783; Pyrus pyrifolia.
  • Kumoi — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 122783; Pyrus pyrifolia.
  • Apfel-Birne — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 122783; Pyrus pyrifolia.
  • Bapfel — results[0].names[34]; taxon id 122783; Pyrus pyrifolia.
  • Birpfel — results[0].names[35]; taxon id 122783; Pyrus pyrifolia.

General information

Scientific name: Pyrus Pyrifolia
Accepted name (Kew): Pyrus pyrifolia View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited taxonomic treatment. Botanical references may use alternative names.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Rosaceae

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

Sources [1]
Also known as: Chinese pear , Sand pear
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Fruit tree
Catalogue size class: Small, Medium
Height: 6.1–12.19 m

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

Sources [4]
Spread: 4.88–12.19 m

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

Sources [4]
Growth rate: Fast
Sources [4]
Foliage: Deciduous
Sources [4]
Growth habit: Dense, Multi-trunked, Pyramidal, Rounded

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

Sources [4]

Growing conditions

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

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

Sources [4]
Soil moisture:
Moist, Well-drained

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

Sources [3] [4]
Soil:
Clay, Loam (Silt), Sand
Sources [4]
pH:
Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Sources [4]
Light:
Full sun, Partial Shade
Sources [4]

Uses

Edible parts:
Fruit
Edibility rating:
(4)
Medicinal rating:
(2)
Functions:
None

Description

Pyrus pyrifolia is a deciduous fruit tree known as Asian or sand pear. Fruit can be eaten fresh or cooked and is crisp and juicy when ripe. For good eating quality, allow Asian pears to ripen on the tree. Fruit size and tree dimensions vary with cultivar and rootstock.

Sources [3] [4] [5]

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 Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: WCVP version 16, wcvp_names.csv: Pyrus pyrifolia (Burm.f.) Nakai, name ID 2964116, row 1440421
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 325731; name ID 2962753; Pyrus L.. Family column.

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Pyrus pyrifolia

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 1101831, ID 4QXBW: Pyrus pyrifolia (Burm.fil.) Nakai (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Horticultural Society Pyrus pyrifolia | Asian pear
    Supports: DescriptionSoil moisture
    Relevant sections
    • Description: Description; Foliage; Cultivation; Potentially harmful, where applicable
    • Soil moisture: Growing conditions: Moisture; Cultivation

    Source checked on .

  4. North Carolina State University Pyrus pyrifolia (Apple Pear, Asian Pear, Chinese Pear, Chinese Sand Pear) — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: DescriptionSoil moistureHeightSpreadGrowth rateFoliageGrowth habitLightSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Description: Description; Whole Plant Traits; Edibility; Poison Symptoms and Toxic Principle, where applicable
    • Soil moisture: Cultural Conditions: Soil Drainage
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 20 ft. 0 in. - 40 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 16 ft. 0 in. - 40 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • 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 .

  5. Clemson Cooperative Extension Asian Pear — HGIC 1352
    Supports: Description
    Relevant sections
    • Description: Fruit characteristics and harvest

    Source checked on .