LeConte Pear is an old-fashioned Southern pear valued for its attractive fruit, pleasant flavor, and ability to grow in warm Southern climates. It produces yellow pears that often develop an attractive reddish blush as they mature. Unlike some firm Southern pears grown mainly for cooking, LeConte is especially appreciated as a fresh-eating pear. The fruit develops a sweet, enjoyable pear flavor and can also be used for preserves, desserts, baking, poaching, and homemade recipes. LeConte is a Southern hybrid pear with both European and Asian pear ancestry. It is recommended by UF/IFAS for North and Central Florida and requires approximately 250–300 winter chill hours. Plant Details • Botanical name: Pyrus hybrid ‘Le Conte’• Pear type: Southern hybrid pear• Parentage: European pear and Asian sand pear ancestry• Plant type: Deciduous fruit tree• Mature height: Approximately 15–20 feet with regular pruning• Mature width: Approximately 12–20 feet• Growth habit: Vigorous and upright to spreading• Sun requirements: Full sun, preferably six or more hours daily• Recommended growing area: North and Central Florida• Chill requirement: Approximately 250–300 chill hours• Bloom season: Late spring bloom period in North Florida• Harvest season: Usually July through August in Florida• Fruit color: Yellow, often with an attractive red blush• Fruit texture: Juicy, with a softer eating quality than many hard Southern pears• Flavor: Sweet and pleasant• Best uses: Fresh eating, preserves, baking, desserts, poaching, and cooking• Pollination: Requires another compatible pear variety• Disease note: Somewhat susceptible to fire blight in Florida UF/IFAS lists Le Conte for fresh eating and reports that it requires cross-pollination. Mississippi State describes the fruit as yellow with a red blush and an excellent eating pear. Pollination Information LeConte Pear is not self-fruitful and should be planted near another compatible pear that flowers at approximately the same time. Best Pollinator Partners • Kieffer Pear — best practical choice for North Florida• Moonglow Pear — another possible late-blooming partner UF/IFAS classifies both Le Conte and Kieffer as late flowering in North Florida. Mississippi State also describes Moonglow as a late-blooming pear. Actual flowering dates can shift depending on winter chill and spring temperatures. I would not list Hood, Flordahome, Pineapple, or Orient as dependable pollinators because UF/IFAS classifies those varieties as early flowering in North Florida. Bees and other pollinating insects are needed to move pollen between the flowers. Place the two pear trees close enough for visiting bees to travel easily between them. North Florida Growing Note LeConte is a good candidate for North Florida and the Florida Panhandle because its 250–300-hour chill requirement generally fits our cooler Panhandle winters. However, fruit production can still vary following an unusually warm winter. Plant LeConte in full sun and well-drained soil. Avoid low areas that remain wet after heavy rain or collect cold air during late winter freezes. LeConte is somewhat susceptible to fire blight under Florida conditions. Avoid excessive nitrogen fertilizer and severe pruning because both can encourage tender, fast-growing shoots that are more vulnerable to infection. Remove blackened flowers or branches promptly, cutting below the visibly damaged tissue. Pick the pears when they are full-sized but still firm and beginning to change from green to yellow. Allow them to finish ripening indoors at room temperature for better flavor and texture. Pears left on the tree until completely soft may develop a gritty texture or internal breakdown. Local Pickup & Limited Shipping Local pickup is available for most plants and trees at our nursery in DeFuniak Springs, Florida. Limited shipping may be available for select trees, liners, and smaller plants in 3-gallon containers or smaller. Shipping availability depends on the plant variety, size, quantity, destination, and packaging requirements. Shipping charges are calculated separately. Please contact us before ordering if shipping is needed to confirm that the plant can be shipped and to receive the current shipping cost. Advanced Nursery Growers LLC1911 McLeod RoadDeFuniak Springs, FL 32435Phone: 850-391-2228Email: [email protected]: www.AdvancedNurseryGrowers.com Wholesale pricing is available for qualified nurseries. Please contact Advanced Nursery Growers for current availability and wholesale pricing.
