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Find Your Hardiness Zone

Orcas European Pear

Original price $64.99 - Original price $64.99
Original price
$64.99
$64.99 - $64.99
Current price $64.99
SKU B180

Pyrus communis 'Orcas'

Horticulturalist Joe Long discovered this tree growing on his property on Orcas Island, WA and it has become a regional favorite. The fruit is large, flavorful, and yellow with a carmine blush when perfectly ripe. The texture is smooth, slick and features very few grit cells.

Orcas' scab resistance is legendary! The tree has a vigorous, spreading habit and bears prolifically every year. The pears are great for canning, drying or eating fresh; they mature in early September. Since the tree is a late bloomer (even though it's an early ripener), it's great to match as a pollinizer with a later-ripening keeper variety like Bosc or Seckel.

USDA Zone: 5-9

Grow Height:  15' (Semi Dwarf)

Sun: Full Sun

Ripening Time: September

Pollination: Needs a Pollinizer

Semi-Dwarf Rootstock: OHxF87

Read our Pear Growing Guide

Size: Semi-Dwarf (4'-5')

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

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  • the video indicates when the orcas pear is ripe, but i was wondering how do i know when to pick it? Seems like every year we pick too early or too late.

    Pears are ready to pick when they come off the tree with a gentle 90 degree turn. They are not ripe yet, however, as most pears do not ripen on the tree. Orcas will need a period of cold storage (at least a week) after being picke and then a few days ripening on the counter afterwards. Please refer to our The Right Way to Harvest Your Pears video on our YouTube channel for more information.

  • Do Orcas and Seckel cross-pollinate well?

    Yes. They are both late bloomers and work great together.