Orcas Pear

Vigorous spreading habit, upright and vigorous tree. Bears prolifically every year, heavy and consistent bearer. Excellent disease resistance, legendary scab resistance, resistant to pear scab and productive. Since tree is late bloomer (even though early ripener), great to match as pollinizer with later-ripening keeper variety like Bosc or Seckel. Needs different European pear with matching bloom time as pollinator to produce fruit.

Late bloomer despite early ripening. Large to very large fruit (can weigh 1 lb each), uniform size, perfectly pear-shaped, slightly lumpy. Yellow with attractive carmine blush when perfectly ripe, warm yellow blushed with crimson red, red-orange blush. Smooth sweet buttery flesh, slick texture, very few grit cells, soft buttery flesh, bright and sweet. Flavorful, sweetness usually found in winter pears like Comice, not as grainy as Bartlett. Great for fresh eating right off tree, excellent for canning and drying.

Any pear born in San Juan Islands archipelago (magical places, rare beautiful wonderfully special) worth growing. Discovered on Orcas Island WA. Included in gardens of Western Washington Fruit Research Foundation which advances fruit horticultural programs for unique Western Washington maritime climate. WSU Mt Vernon recommended variety. Well adapted to Pacific Northwest growing conditions.