Practical
Plants

Pyrus x salvifolia

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

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Taxonomy and growth

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

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Fruit - raw or cooked[3][1]. Up to 2.5cm long[4].

Plant part
Fruit

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Secondary canopy

Environment

Range
A garden hybrid, possibly P. nivalis x P. communis.
Habitat
Not known in a truly wild situation but it is found naturalized in dry open woods and on sunny slopes in W. and S. Europe[5].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 6+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay, heavy clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerances
drought
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
tolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

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[4]. Temperatures over 15 - 20°c induce a secondary dormancy in the seed[4]. 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. This species is a hybrid and is unlikely to breed true to type from seed.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers a good well-drained loam in full sun[4]. 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[4]. Established plants are drought tolerant[4]. Plants are hardy to at least -15°c[4]. Closely related to P. nivalis[2][4]. Cultivated as a perry pear in France[2].

References

  1. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩

  2. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  3. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩

  4. 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↩8

  5. ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964-00-00

    ↩

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