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All about apples, pears, plums, and cherries - and orchards where they are grown

Josephine de Malines pear

Josephine de Malines
Juicy, sweet, vinous, floral melting flesh - this is perhaps the essential Belgian pear. Ripens late and keeps very well.

Josephine de Malines pear identification images

All images copyright Orange Pippin unless otherwise stated.

USDA identification images for Josephine de Malines

The identification paintings in the USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection span the years 1886 to 1942.

    Citation: U.S. Department of Agriculture Pomological Watercolor Collection. Rare and Special Collections, National Agricultural Library, Beltsville, MD 20705.

    Offspring of this variety


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    Tree register

    United Kingdom

    Netherlands

    Australia

    Spring blossom records for this variety

    2022 season

    • 20th April  2022  - tree owned by Cheuk in Amsterdam, Netherlands

    2017 season

    • 14th October  2017  - tree owned by Neville in Tea Tree Gully, Australia

    Record your blossom dates in our Fruit Tree Register - more >>.


    Origins

    • Species: Pyrus communis - Pear
    • Originates from: Malines, Belgium
    • Introduced: early 1800s
    • Developed by: Major Esperen
    • UK National Fruit Collection accession: 1970-043

    Identification

    • Awards: RHS AGM (current)
    • Country of origin: Belgium
    • Period of origin: 1800 - 1849
    • Fruit colour: Green / Yellow
    • Flower colour: White
    • Leaf colour: Green
    • Popularity: Under-rated
    • Annual cycle: Deciduous

    Using

    • Picking season: Very late
    • Keeping (of fruit): 1-2 months
    • Flavour quality: Very good
    • Flavour style (apples): Sweeter
    • Cropping: Heavy
    • Fruit persistence: Normal ripening
    • Food uses: Eating fresh
    • Picking period: late October
    • Wildlife: RHS Plants for Pollinators

    Growing

    • Gardening skill: Average
    • Flowering group: 4
    • Pollinating others: Average
    • Ploidy: Diploid
    • Vigour: Weak growing
    • Bearing regularity: Regular
    • Growth habit: Spreading / Flat-topped
    • Fruit bearing: Partial tip-bearer
    • Self-fertility: Not self-fertile

    Climate

    • Climate suitability: Temperate climates
    • Climate suitability: Warm climates
    • Summer average maximum temperatures: Warm (25-30C / 76-85F)
    • Cold hardiness (RHS): H6 (to -20C)

    Other qualities

    • Disease resistance: Average
    • Scab (Apple and Pear): Some resistance

    Where to buy trees

    The following tree nurseries offer Josephine de Malines pear trees for sale:


    Where to buy fresh fruit

    No orchards have registered as growing this variety. If you grow this and want to register please go to our Orchard Registration form.



    References

    • Fruit Expert
      Author: Hessayon
    • The Book of Pears (2015)
      Author: Morgan
      229
    • The Fruit Manual
      Author: Hogg

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