Pyrus communis ‘Bartlett’ – European Pear

The world’s most well-known pear and for good reason. It has a classic pyriform shape and excellent flavor that has come to define what pears taste like. It originated in Europe where it is known as ‘Williams’ Bon Chretien’. Trees were imported to the United States to an estate acquired by Enoch Bartlett of Dorchester Massachusetts; not knowing the variety of pear that came with the estate, he simply named the pear after himself! Ripens in September (mid-season) and, like many pears, should be picked before ripe and ripened off the tree. ‘Bartlett’ does not have much resistance to fire blight.