Mehal (Himalayan wild pear)

Pyrus pashia

Small russet pears, mouth-puckering until they soften and brown; the rootstock under most hill orchards.

Type: small tree · fruit trees
Hardiness: zones 6 to 9
Light: full sun
Size: about 30 ft tall, 20 ft wide
Harvest: October to December
From: Himalaya, from Afghanistan to southwest China
Drought-hardy once established
Here: Hardy in the Lake Erie shore climate (zone 6b to 7a), so it can live outdoors in the ground.

Good for: food, pollinators, wildlife.

Native to: Himalaya & Indian hill country. Hardy in zones 6 to 9.

The story

Mehal, the wild Himalayan pear, grows on hillsides from Afghanistan to Yunnan. It covers itself in white blossom in early spring, and hill farmers graft their good pears onto its tough roots.

Planting

Full sun and well-drained soil. It takes drought and poor ground.

Growing

It needs little care. Prune in winter if you must.

Harvest and use

Small brown pears from late autumn. They are hard and astringent off the tree and are kept until they turn soft, dark and sweet, like a medlar.

What to watch for

Thorns. The fruit is not worth eating until it has softened.

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General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home