Practical
Plants

Pyrus ussuriensis

Harbin Pear

a perennial woody deciduous member of the Pyrus genus in the family Rosaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Family
Rosaceae
Genus
Pyrus
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
deciduous
Woodiness
woody
Height
15 m
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

None known

Edible uses

Fruit - raw or cooked[2]. Size and quality varies tremendously from tree to tree. Good forms have somewhat dry but pleasantly flavoured fruits up to 4cm in diameter, other forms are less pleasant and often smaller[K].

Plant part
Fruit

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

None known

Material uses

Used as a rootstock[2] for P. pyrifolia culta in Korea[1], it is very frost resistant[5].

Product or use
Wood

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Canopy

Environment

Range
E. Asia - N.E. China, Korea.
Habitat
Forests and river valleys in lower mountain zones[5].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 4+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay, heavy clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerances
drought
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
tolerant

Propagation

Seed - best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe in the autumn, it will then usually germinate in mid to late winter. Stored seed requires 8 - 10 weeks cold stratification at 1°c and should be sown as early in the year as possible[3]. Temperatures over 15 - 20°c induce a secondary dormancy in the seed[3]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in light shade in a cold frame or greenhouse for their first year. Plant them out in late spring or early summer of the following year.

Cultivation

Prefers a good well-drained loam in full sun[3]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Tolerates light shade but does not fruit so well in such a position. Tolerates atmospheric pollution, excessive moisture and a range of soil types if they are moderately fertile[3]. Established plants are drought tolerant[3]. A very frost resistant tree[5], tolerating temperatures down to below -15°[3], it is a possible rootstock for northern areas[5]. It is used as a rootstock for P. pyrifolia culta in Korea. This species is a parent of the cultivated Asian pears[3].

References

  1. Wilson. E. H. and Trollope. M. N. Corean Flora. Royal Asiatic Society 1918-00-00

    ↩

  2. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2

  3. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

  4. Flora of China 1994-00-00 http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/

  5. Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation 1968-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

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