Ussurian pear
Pyrus ussuriensis
A zone-2 pear: best for cooking, and the parent of most hardy hybrid pears.
Hardiness: zones 2 to 7
Light: full sun
Size: about 30 ft tall, 25 ft wide
Harvest: September
From: NE Asia
Here: Hardy in the Lake Erie shore climate (zone 6b to 7a), so it can live outdoors in the ground.
Good for: food, pollinators.
Native to: East Asia, Northern Europe & the taiga. Hardy in zones 2 to 7.
The story
The Ussurian pear grows along the Amur and Ussuri rivers of the Russian Far East and north China, where it was eaten after frost softened it and cooked into preserves; it is the hardiest pear on earth and the parent of 'Ure' and the other prairie pears of Canada.
Planting
Full sun, any drained soil; hardy to -50°F. Plant two seedlings or a hybrid with a pollinator; a 30-foot tree with heavy white bloom.
Growing
Water young trees, then little. Prune lightly in late winter. It resists fire blight.
Harvest and use
Small, hard, gritty fruit ripens in autumn; let frost or a week in storage soften it, then cook into sauce or preserves. Hybrids are better fresh.
What to watch for
Fire blight occasionally; otherwise tough.
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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