Golden Spice Pear
Pyrus ussuriensis 'Golden Spice'
Height: 18 feet
Spread: 12 feet
Sunlight:
Hardiness Zone: 3a
Description:
This tree features white flowers in spring, good fall colour and oval shape; small firm yellow fruit that is lightly blushed and ripe in late August, best for canning; self-pollinating but increased production with a pollinator; resistant to fireblight
Edible Qualities
Golden Spice Pear is a small tree that is commonly grown for its edible qualities. It produces yellow oblong pears (which are botanically known as 'pomes') with a red blush and white flesh which are usually ready for picking from late summer to early fall. The fruit will often fade to gold over time. The pears have a sweet taste and a crisp texture.
The pears are most often used in the following ways:
- Fresh Eating
- Cooking
- Baking
- Canning
Features & Attributes
Golden Spice Pear is smothered in stunning clusters of white flowers with purple anthers along the branches in mid spring. It has dark green deciduous foliage. The glossy oval leaves turn an outstanding burgundy in the fall. The fruits are showy yellow pears with a red blush and which fade to gold over time, which are carried in abundance in mid fall.
This is a dense deciduous tree with a shapely oval form. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition. This is a high maintenance plant that will require regular care and upkeep, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. It has no significant negative characteristics.
Aside from its primary use as an edible, Golden Spice Pear is sutiable for the following landscape applications;
- Accent
- Shade
- Orchard/Edible Landscaping
Planting & Growing
Golden Spice Pear will grow to be about 18 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 12 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 4 feet from the ground, and should not be planted underneath power lines. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 70 years or more. This variety requires a different selection of the same species growing nearby in order to set fruit.
This tree is typically grown in a designated area of the yard because of its mature size and spread. It should only be grown in full sunlight. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.