Fruits
Pyrus 'Kieffer'
Kieffer pear
A European–Asian hybrid pear with firm, somewhat gritty flesh best suited to cooking and preserves. Its fruit quality improves when picked mature and ripened properly, and the tree is notably tolerant of fire blight.
At a glance
- Sun
- Full sun
- Water
- Even moisture; well-drained soil
- Hardiness
- USDA zones 4–9
Sizes & prices
- #3$84.99
- #5$99.99
Catalog updated September 8, 2026. This is not a live stock count; please call to confirm availability and price.
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Pollinators & wildlife
- Attracts
- Bees
Fruit & harvest
- Tri-state harvest
- Typically late summer to fall; exact timing varies by site.
- First bearing
- About 5–8 years after planting; tree age and rootstock affect timing.
- Pollination
- Partly self-fruitful; a second compatible pear usually improves fruit set.
Growing & care
- Care & pruning
- Prune for a sturdy open canopy and remove fire-blight-infected wood according to local extension guidance.
- Rootstock & size
- For grafted fruit trees, mature size and time to fruit depend on the rootstock as well as pruning. Check the individual tree tag when selecting planting space.
- Size & rootstock
- Standard trees may reach about 20 ft. tall and wide; dwarf forms about 12–15 ft. tall and 10 ft. wide. Ask which rootstock is supplied.
Sources & photo credits
University of Connecticut Extension
University of Kentucky Extension
Oregon State University Extension
University of Missouri Extension
Photo: JJ Harrison (image resized for display) · CC BY-SA 2.5
Reviewed October 1, 2026. Growing conditions vary by location.