Our Green (we think Anjou) Pear Tree bears Purple Fruit - Ask Extension
We have had an Anjou (we think) green pear tree which bore green pears for years. It is near a neighbor's Asian Pear tree.
For the last 2 years, the ...
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Our Green (we think Anjou) Pear Tree bears Purple Fruit #870816
Asked May 30, 2024, 4:29 PM EDT
We have had an Anjou (we think) green pear tree which bore green pears for years. It is near a neighbor's Asian Pear tree.
For the last 2 years, the pear tree has been bearing purple fruit. It looks ok. The leaves look fine.
We're not sure if this is good fruit -- if there is cross-pollination happening -- or if the tree is diseased. (see attached photos)
Please advise.
Thank you!
Washington County Oregon
Expert Response
Hi Risa and thanks for the pictures and question about your purple pears. When you say the tree has been having green pears for years, I'm assuming you mean fully ripe, traditional D'Anjou pears. Have you tried eating or cutting open the red pears? And do they look or taste OK?
The only thing I can think of (assuming they are OK when cut open) is that somehow your tree has a lot of the red "bud sports" that occurred in Medford in the 1950s from which the Red D'Anjou pear was developed. If they are not tasty, I would toss them, but otherwise, the websites say they "brighten any dish and are great for baking, poaching or eating fresh."
Congratulations for getting one of nature's miracles!
The only thing I can think of (assuming they are OK when cut open) is that somehow your tree has a lot of the red "bud sports" that occurred in Medford in the 1950s from which the Red D'Anjou pear was developed. If they are not tasty, I would toss them, but otherwise, the websites say they "brighten any dish and are great for baking, poaching or eating fresh."
Congratulations for getting one of nature's miracles!
