symplastless wrote:


QUESTION: “I have been told you need two pear trees to produce fruit.
I just planted an ornamental pear, FLW Cleve Select. My neighbor just
across the road was told if you have another pear tree within a half
mile, that would work for the second tree. He wants to plant a pear
tree. My question: will my ornamental work for his "second" pear tree
if he plants a fruit bearing pear or does he need two of his own?
Thanks for your time and help.” -- Mickey VanSickle

ANSWER: Ornamental flowering pears will not work to cross pollinate
fruiting pear trees. When planting a fruiting pear tree, a second
variety of a pear tree should be planted within about 300 feet for
cross pollination. The two fruiting pear varieties should either bloom
at the same time or overlap their blooming period. Otherwise,
pollination will not occur.

Here is a case where both the Plant man and symplastless got it completely
wrong. Ornamental Pear trees and Fruiting Pear trees are both the same
cultivars, Pyrus. Some Pear trees are self-fertile, like Seckel. Other pear
varieties will not act as pollinators for other varieties because of genetic
differences. However, in your case, the Ornamental Pear should do fine.
There is a very nice chart of which pear trees pollinate eachother at:

www.ext.colostate.edu/PUBS/Garden/07002.html

Hope this helps,

Sherwin