Heritage Fruits Society

Bong Ri:
Origin: Korea (1941), P. pyrifolia, Nijisseiki x P. bretschneideri, Ya Li.
Tree: Vigorous, upright, productive, large ovate leaf with attenuate tip, coarse serrations.
Chilling requirement: High.
Blossom and pollination: Early season, abundant pollen for other varieties, Tsu Li, Hwa Hong.
Fruit shape: Uniform, ovate pyriform.
Skin and flesh: Brown, tough, thick, russeted, lenticels conspicuous. White flesh, sweet, soluble solids 15%, very aromatic, coarse and pulpy compared with Dan Bae, good quality, good flavour.
Harvest: 188-193 days after full bloom

Choju:
Origin: Japan, P. pyrifolia, Asahi x Kimizukawase.
Tree: Moderate to vigorous, fairly large broad oval leaf with attenuate tip, small neat serrations.
Chilling requirement: Moderate.
Blossom and pollination: Mid to late season, Chojuro, Kosui, Hosui.
Fruit shape: Medium, oblate, good quality.
Skin and flesh: Russeted, tender, sugar medium, acid low.
Harvest: Very early maturing, before Shinsui, 110 days after full bloom.
Storage: Poor keeping quality.

Chojuro:
Origin Japan (1889), chance seedling of Mr Tatsujiro Toma. P. pyrifolia
Tree Moderate vigour, spreading, susceptible to fire blight (Erwinia amylovora). Smallish ovate leaf, with medium serrations and pointed tips.
Chilling requirement Moderate.
Blossom and pollination Early mid season. Shinsui, Kosui, Nijisseiki, Hosui, WBC, partly self-fertile.
Fruit shape Oblate, medium, easier to obtain good sized fruit.
Skin and flesh Fully russeted, any scratch on skin turns black. Poor to moderate eating quality, rather tough texture, a bit gritty, high sugar, medium low acid.
Harvest Matures with or just after Nijisseiki, mid season, 135-150 days after full bloom
Storage Long, up to five months.

Dan Bae:

Origin	Korea (1969), P. pyrifolia Chojuro x P. ussuriensis (Chungsil)
Tree	Medium vigour, upright, productive, susceptible to fire blight, very hardy after juvenile stage. Ovate leaf with attenuate tip, medium serrations
Chilling requirement	High
Blossom and pollination	Mid season, pale pink stamens, abundant pollen, self-incompatible, WBC, Hosui.
Fruit shape	Uniform roundish, not so conical around stem as Niitaka, large.
Skin and flesh	Greenish tan to tan, tough relatively thick, surface russeted, lenticels conspicuous. White flesh, sweet, texture firm, crisp and juicy but coarse with more stone cells than Shin Go, soluble solids 14%, excellent flavour, one of the best.
Harvest	Late, just after Niitaka, 171-179 days after full bloom.
Storage	Good, up to five months.

Haeng Sue:

Origin	Korea, P. pyrifolia, Kikuchi x Joseng Henjang (1959 Japan)
Tree	Medium vigour, spreading, productive. Roundish leaf with attenuate tip, medium serrations.
Chilling requirement	High.
Blossom and pollination	Mid season. Abundant pollen, cross incompatible with Shin Soo.
Fruit shape	Uniform roundish, oblate, small to medium.
Skin and flesh	Clear yellowish brown, thin, tender, surface russeted, lenticels conspicuous. White flesh, sweet, soluble solids 12%, tender, crisp, juicy, same flesh quality as Shin Soo, very good quality.
Harvest	Early, 121-132 days after full bloom, similar to Kosui.
Storage	Medium, 25-30 days.

Hakko:

Origin	Japan (1972), P.pyrifolia, Yakumo x Kosui.
Tree	Vigorous, upright, susceptible to fire blight. Broad ovate leaf with attenuate tip, small neat serrations.
Chilling requirement	Moderate.
Blossom and pollination	Mid to late season. Chojuro, Shinseiki, Yakumo, Kosui, Nijiseiki. NOT Shinsui.
Fruit shape	Round oblate, medium large.
Skin and flesh	Yellowish green clear skin, does mark easily. Fair to good eating quality, juicy and sweet, excellent texture, medium sugar and acid.
Harvest	Ripens similar or slightly earlier than Kosui, early, 115-125 days after full bloom
Storage	Poor to medium storage.

Hosui:

Origin	Japan (1972), P.pyrifolia, Ri-14 (Kikusui x Yakumo) x Yakumo.
Tree	Vigorous when young, but more moderate when mature, weeping habit with long floppy limbs, susceptible to fire blight and pear blast (Pseudomonas syringae). Broad ovate to oval leaf with attenuate tip, medium serrations.
Chilling requirement	Moderate, less than Kosui, about 550 h.
Blossom and pollination	Early mid season, pink in bud and part of most exposed petals, rounded buds, flower large, red ring inside anthers, frilly edged petals. Shinsui, Nijisseiki, Kosui. NOT Niitaka.
Fruit shape	Round, medium large.
Skin and flesh	Russetted golden brown, conspicuous white lenticels. Excellent eating quality, high sugar and acid, fine grained texture.
Harvest	Just after Nijisseiki, mid season, 135-145 days after full bloom
Storage	Good keeping quality, 3-4 months.

Notes: A very large, juicy, sweet, low acid, bronze-skinned pear that is one of the most popular varieties. Hosui is partially self-pollinating however will benefit from cross pollination with Kosui.

Hwa Hong:

Origin	Korea (1941), P. pyrifolia, Nijisseiki x P. bretschneideri, Ya Li.
Tree	Large and vigorous, spreading, productive. Large ovate leaf with attenuate tip, medium serrations.
Chilling requirement	High
Blossom and pollination	Early mid-season. Abundant pollen, self incompatible, probably Ya Li or Tsu Li, may be a bit late for Corella or Red Face, some overlap with Hosui.
Fruit shape	Uniform ovate acute pyriform, large
Skin and flesh	Greenish yellow, thin, tender, smooth surface, lenticels inconspicuous. White flesh, sweet, texture tender, crisp juicy, somewhat coarse, soluble solids 13%.
Harvest	Mid season, similar to Niitaka, 157-165 days after full bloom.
Storage	Medium, low chill injury when put into 0-10C immediately after harvest, browning internally, 30 days ambient.

Kikusui:

Origin	Japan (1927), P. pyrifolia, Taihaku x Nijisseiki, bred by A. Kikuchi
Tree	Medium vigour, upright, susceptible to fire blight. Long oval leaf with attenuate tip, very small serrations.
Chilling requirement	Moderate.
Blossom and pollination	Mid to late season. Chojuro, Hosui, Kosui. NOT Nijisseiki, Kosui and Shinsui, partly self fertile.
Fruit shape	Oblate but tends to be lopsided, medium.
Skin and flesh	Yellowish green, tender, cracks after heavy rain like Nijisseiki. Good to excellent quality, high sugar and acid.
Harvest	Mid season, 135-145 days after full bloom, similar to Nijiseiki time
Storage	Medium, up to five months.

Kosui:

Origin	Japan (1959), P. pyrifolia, Kikusui x Wasekozo.
Tree	Medium to vigorous, moderate productivity, susceptible to fire blight and pear blast. Broad oval leaf with attenuate tip, medium serrations.
Chilling requirement	Moderate, about 600 hours, more than Hosui.
Blossom and pollination	Mid to late season. Hosui, Chojuro, Nijisseiki. NOT Shinsui.
Fruit shape	Oblate, medium.
Skin and flesh	Partially russeted, golden yellow to tan, attractive, tender, may crack a bit after heavy rain. Excellent eating quality, tender, very juicy, high sugar, low acid
Harvest	After Shinsui, before Nijiseiki, early, 125-135 days after full bloom
Storage	Medium storage, up to two months at least

Niitaka:

Origin	Japan (1915), P. pyrifolia, Amanogawa x Imamuraaki.
Tree	Medium to low vigour, very upright, high production, susceptible to fire blight. Large round leaf with attenuate tip, small serrations with long points.
Chilling requirement	Moderate.
Blossom and pollination	Early. Ya Li, (Chojuro if blossom advanced), maybe Hwa Hong, has little and infertile pollen, questionable with Hosui.
Fruit shape	Round, conical around the stem, stalk in small ridged basin, very large.
Skin and flesh	Russeted. Good eating quality, medium-high sugar, medium acid.
Harvest	Late, similar to Hwa Hong, 155-170 days after full bloom.
Storage	Medium, up to five months?

Nijisseiki:

Origin	Japan, chance seedling found on a rubbish heap in 1898 by Mr Kakunosuke Matsudo at Ishii, Chiba, P. pyrifolia.
Tree	Medium to low vigour, spreading with wide branch angles, spur bearer, susceptible to fire blight. Ovate leaf with medium serrations, young leaves and shoots are whitely pubescent.
Chilling requirement	Moderate.
Blossom and pollination	Mid season, can set very heavily, up to 9 or 10 per flower cluster, 2 or 3 times, white medium flowers, tend to be pointy in bud. Hosui, Shinsui, Packham's Triumph, (Chojuro, but may be too early for Nijisseiki), NOT Kikusui.
Fruit shape	Round, oblate, medium, can be small if too many on tree, need to thin to one per spur or two spurs.
Skin and flesh	Yellowish green clear skin, subject to abrasion and marking under certain conditions, cracks badly after heavy continuous rain like Kikusui. Good eating quality, medium sugar, high acid.
Harvest	2-3 weeks after Shinsui, and after Kosui, 140-155 days after full bloom.
Storage	Up to six months cool storage.

Notes: A heavy bearing spreading variety. Medium sized round fruit of excellent eating quality with yellowish green clear skin and moderate sugar content. This variety appears to set fruit without pollination however the fruit is smaller.

Okusankichi:

Origin	Japan, old variety, P. pyrifolia, Wasesankichi.
Tree	Vigorous, very productive, susceptible to fire blight. Roundish leaf with attenuate tip, medium serrations.
Chilling requirement	Medium.
Blossom and pollination	Mid-late. Chojuro, Nijisseiki, Hosui, partly self-fertile.
Fruit shape	Very large, turbinate or globular, calyx may be persistent.
Skin and flesh	Russeted, dull greenish brown to tan brown. Moderate quality, medium high sugar, high acid, firm, sweet.
Harvest	Very late, 195-210 days after full bloom
Storage	Good, 6-7 months.

Shen Li:

Origin	China, from Shandong and Hebei Provinces.
Tree	Vigorous, upright. Large round leaf with attenuate tip, small to medium neat serrations.
Chilling requirement	Medium?
Blossom and pollination	Early mid season, possibly Niitaka, Dan Bae, Shinsei, Williams’.
Fruit shape	Medium to large, roundish, pyriform, rated better than Ya Li by the Chinese.
Skin and flesh	Somewhat similar to Tsu Li? Smooth with conspicuous lenticels, juicy and flavoursome, sweet crisp, pleasant floral aroma.
Harvest	Late, when green colour turns to pale yellow.
Storage	Quite good, probably non-climateric.

Shin Go:

Origin	Korea, P. pyrifolia, Cheonjichon x Imamuraaki, (Japan 1929).
Tree	Vigorous, upright, productive, susceptible to fire blight. Broad roundish leaf with attenuate tip, small neat serrations without the longer points of Shinko
Chilling requirement	High
Blossom and pollination	Mid season, very poor pollen production, cross compatible with other varieties, maybe Dan Bae, Hosui and Kosui.
Fruit shape	Uniform, large, flattish round, sometimes lopsided, conical, more so than Shinko.
Skin and flesh	Bright yellowish brown, tender, russeted, lenticels conspicuous. White flesh, sweet, very good quality, crisp, juicy, coarse and pulpy, soluble solids 12%.
Harvest	Mid season, similar to Hwa Hong, before Bong Ri and Dan Bae, 165-170 days after full bloom (before Shinko).
Storage	Short, 30 days.

Shin Soo:

Origin	Korea, P .pyrifolia, Kikuchi x Kimizukawase (Japan 1965).
Tree	Medium vigour, upright, poor production. Large broad oval leaf with attenuate tip, fairly coarse serrations.
Chilling requirement	High.
Blossom and pollination	Mid season, abundant pollen, self-incompatible, cross incompatible with Haeng Soo.
Fruit shape	Uniform oblate, lopsided.
Skin and flesh	Pale yellow brown, tender, russeted, lenticels conspicuous. Very good quality, white, sweet, crisp, less aromatic, coarse and pulpy with less stone cells than Shin Go, soluble solids 12%.
Harvest	Early, 110-115 days after full bloom, after Haeng Soo.
Storage	Short to medium, 15-20 days.

Shinko:

Origin	Japan, (pre 1941), P. pyrifolia, Nijisseiki x ?
Tree	Low to moderate vigour, very upright, very productive, fire blight tolerance. Oval leaf with attenuate tip small neat serrations with longer points unlike Shin Go
Chilling requirement	Moderate.
Blossom and pollination	Mid season, plenty of pollen, useful pollinator. Partially self fertile.
Fruit shape	Round, large, more round and without the more conical shape of Shin Go.
Skin and flesh	Fully brown russetted, thick skin, (partial russet similar to Kosui russet). Good texture and flavour.
Harvest	Late, about Niitaka? 155-170 days after full bloom, after Shin Go.
Storage	Stores well, 4-5 months.

Shinsei:

Origin	Japan (1984), Patented, P. pyrifolia, Suisei x Shinko.
Tree	Moderate to vigorous. Large oval shiny leaf with attenuate tip, small serrations with long tips.
Chilling requirement	Moderate.
Blossom and pollination	Very early. Ya Li or stored pollen.
Fruit shape	Oblate conic, medium
Skin and flesh	Russeted partially like Kosui, good to excellent eating quality, high sugar, low acid.
Harvest	Mid to late, after Hosui, before Shin Go, 180 days after full bloom.
Storage	stores well

Shinseiki:

Origin	Japan, P. pyrifolia, Nijiseiki x Chojuro
Tree	Moderately vigorous, natural pyramid, can be stunted by over cropping, spur type, susceptible to fire blight. Broad oval leaf with attenuate tip, medium neat serrations
Chilling requirement	Moderate.
Blossom and pollination	Medium to late, partially self-fertile. Williams', Hakko, Nijisseiki, Chojuro.
Fruit shape	Medium when well thinned, flat-round, precocious, heavy bearing.
Skin and flesh	Yellow green, very smooth, tender, marks very easily. Coarse flesh, juicy, mild flavoured, medium sugar, high acid, flesh spot decay can be a problem with over mature fruit at harvest.
Harvest	Early mid season, few days after Kosui, when sugars about 12.5% and mostly yellow, 125 days after full bloom.
Storage	Short, about two months.

Notes: Round, medium to large, yellow fruit. Crisp creamy white flesh; mild, sweet flavour. Tastes best when tree ripened. Hangs on the tree in good condition for 4 - 6 weeks. Vigorous and spreading. Self-pollinating with a lower chill requirement than most.

Shinsetsu:

Origin	Japan, P. pyrifolia, Imamuraaki x Okusankichi.
Tree	Vigorous. Fairly large oval leaf with attenuate tip, fine neat serrations.
Chilling requirement	Moderate.
Blossom and pollination	Mid to late,Chojuro, Hosui, Kosui.
Fruit shape	Round conic, very large.
Skin and flesh	Russeted heavily, tough, good eating quality, high sugar, low acid.
Harvest	Late, after Dan Bae, 195-210 days after full bloom.
Storage	Long storage.

Shinsui:

Origin	Japan (1965), P. pyrifolia, Kikusui x Kimizukawase.
Tree	Vigorous, upright, sparsely branched with long internodes. Broad round oval leaf with attenuate tip, medium coarse serrations. Susceptible to black spot (Altenaria)
Chilling requirement	Moderate.
Blossom and pollination	Mid season. Nijisseiki, Chojuro (but it may be too early in some districts), NOT Kosui, and Hakko may be not too.
Fruit shape	Ovate, small-medium
Skin and flesh	Russeted golden brown, excellent eating quality, crisp slightly gritty, high sugar and acid.
Harvest	Very early, 115-125 days after full bloom.
Storage	Short shelf life.

Tsu Li:

Origin	China, old renowned variety, probably P. ussuriensis & P. bretschneideri.
Tree	Very vigorous, upright, dense, susceptible to fireblight. Large oval leaf with attenuate tip, very fine neat serrations
Chilling requirement	Low, 365-480 hours
Blossom and pollination	Very early, day or two after Ya Li. Ya Li, partly self fertile, Corella.
Fruit shape	Ovate pyriform, variable, medium to large.
Skin and flesh	Light green to yellow green, may have ugly lenticel spotting. Good eating, with some stone cells, high sugar, medium acid, sweet with a trace of tartness.
Harvest	Late, a month after Nijisseiki, 176-189 days after full bloom.
Storage	Fairly long, up to six months at 0-1°C at least.

Ya Li:

Origin	China, old variety, P. bretschneideri
Tree	Vigorous, spreading. Large wavy edged ovate leaves, medium even serrations, veins running closer to parallel than most pear leaves, with beautiful red autumn colour.
Chilling requirement	Low, 365-480 hours.
Blossom and pollination	Very early, day or two before Tsu Li. Tsu Li, Chojuro if pollen stored, Corella.
Fruit shape	Turbinate to globular- acute- pyriform, medium to large.
Skin and flesh	Light yellowish green, shiny, attractive. Good to excellent eating quality, medium sugar and acid, mildly sweet.
Harvest	Late, few days before Tsu Li, 175-190 days after full bloom.
Storage	What was thought to be sensitivity to 0-1° C temperatures may be due to late picking. In California, fruit harvested later than 180 days from full bloom developed browning of core and flesh similar to that found at Orange.

Yakumo:

Origin	Japan, P .pyrifolia, Nijisseiki x Akaho bred by Kikuchi.
Tree	Medium vigour? Long oval leaf with attenuate tip, very small neat serrations
Chilling requirement	Moderate.
Blossom and pollination	Mid late season. Hakko, Shinseiki.
Fruit shape	Small, good quality, round.
Skin and flesh	Yellowish green, (may crack a bit after heavy rain). Medium texture, medium sugar and acid, excellent flavour.
Harvest	After Nijisseiki (110-120 days after full bloom?).
Storage	Poor storage?

Heritage Fruits Society: Nashi Pear Varieties in Australia