How far apart should I plant Pear?

About 5 m (16 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 3–6 m (10–20 ft).

Does Pear need full sun?

Full sun: at least 6 hours of direct sun a day.

How much water does Pear need?

Moderate water. Drought tolerance is low and waterlogging tolerance moderate.

How cold-hardy is Pear?

It tolerates about -29 °C (-20 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 4.

When does Pear flower?

From about April for 1–2 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).

Is Pear poisonous to cats and dogs?

For cats it is mildly toxic; for dogs mildly toxic; for people mildly toxic. Seeds contain small amounts of amygdalin and leaves can irritate; the ripe flesh is safe.

What grows well with Pear?

Gardeners plant garlic chives among roses to deter aphids and black spot; the evidence is weak and mostly anecdotal.

Pear Pyrus communis

Pear (Pyrus communis) is a deciduous perennial fruit plant in the Rosaceae family, native to Europe and western Asia. It grows 5–8 m (16–26 ft) tall and 3–6 m (10–20 ft) wide, wants full sun and moderate water, and is hardy to about -29 °C (-20 °F). Space plants about 5 m (16 ft) apart.

Plan Pear in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.

Pear at a glance

Type	Perennial fruit plant, deciduous
Family	Rosaceae
Mature height	5–8 m (16–26 ft)
Mature spread	3–6 m (10–20 ft)
Spacing	5 m (16 ft) centre to centre
Sun	Full sun, at least 6 h of direct sun a day
Water	Moderate; drought tolerance low, waterlogging tolerance moderate
Soil pH	6–7.5
Cold hardiness	About -29 °C (-20 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 4)
Heat stress	Likely above about 35 °C (95 °F)
Flowering	from about April for 1–2 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones)
Wind tolerance	Low
Pollinator value	High
Edible	Yes: fruit
Native to	Europe and western Asia
Common in gardens of	🇬🇧 United Kingdom, 🇫🇷 France, 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇺🇸 United States, 🇷🇺 Russia, 🇳🇱 Netherlands

Is Pear toxic?

People: mildly toxic
Cats: mildly toxic
Dogs: mildly toxic
Parts: seeds, leaves

Seeds contain small amounts of amygdalin and leaves can irritate; the ripe flesh is safe.

If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.

Companion planting: what to grow with Pear

Good neighbours

good With Garlic chives: Gardeners plant garlic chives among roses to deter aphids and black spot; the evidence is weak and mostly anecdotal. Evidence D

Keep apart or take care

avoid With Black walnut: Black walnut roots, leaves and hulls release juglone, and extension lists name this fruit as sensitive: it can wilt, stunt or die within the root zone and drip line. Evidence B
caution With Creeping juniper: Pear trellis rust (Gymnosporangium sabinae) needs both pear and juniper, especially savin (Juniperus sabina), to complete its life cycle; keep them apart or choose resistant cultivars. Evidence B
caution With Dwarf apple tree: Fire blight (Erwinia amylovora) infects both pear and apple, and bees carry it from blossom to blossom, so an outbreak in one can reach the other. Evidence B
caution With Quince: Pear and quince are both highly susceptible to fire blight, and quince is commonly used as a pear rootstock, so the bacteria can pass between them. Evidence B
caution With Nashi pear (Asian pear): Both Pyrus species are susceptible to fire blight and share pear psylla and pear scab, so disease in one threatens the other. Evidence B

Shared pests and diseases

Fire blight: Fire blight bacteria are carried by bees and rain between apples, pears, quince, hawthorn, cotoneaster and firethorn. Evidence B

See Pear in a botanical garden

It grows in this sample garden, which you can walk through in 3D:

Monet’s gardens at Giverny (4 plants)

Questions about Pear

How far apart should I plant Pear?: About 5 m (16 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 3–6 m (10–20 ft).
Does Pear need full sun?: Full sun: at least 6 hours of direct sun a day.
How much water does Pear need?: Moderate water. Drought tolerance is low and waterlogging tolerance moderate.
How cold-hardy is Pear?: It tolerates about -29 °C (-20 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 4.
When does Pear flower?: From about April for 1–2 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).
Is Pear poisonous to cats and dogs?: For cats it is mildly toxic; for dogs mildly toxic; for people mildly toxic. Seeds contain small amounts of amygdalin and leaves can irritate; the ripe flesh is safe.
What grows well with Pear?: Gardeners plant garlic chives among roses to deter aphids and black spot; the evidence is weak and mostly anecdotal.

Sources and evidence

Evidence grade B (B: extension service or peer-reviewed).

RHS Plant Finder, Royal Horticultural Society
University extension gardening guides (general), Various land-grant university extensions
Fruit & Nut Research and Information Center: chilling requirements by species and cultivar, University of California, Davis
Black walnut toxicity to plants (sensitive and tolerant lists), University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension Horticulture
FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper 56 — Crop Evapotranspiration, FAO

Notes and assumptions

Standard or semi-dwarf tree on quince or Pyrus rootstock; most cultivars need a compatible pollination partner.
Chill requirement varies by cultivar (roughly 600-1500 hours).

Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.

Related plants

Strawberry Fragaria x ananassa
Dwarf apple tree Malus domestica
Common ninebark Physocarpus opulifolius
Serviceberry Amelanchier canadensis
Raspberry Rubus idaeus
Blackberry Rubus fruticosus agg.
Garden rose Rosa x hybrida
Japanese flowering cherry Prunus serrulata