Hood Pear is a low-chill Southern pear known for its early harvest, dependable growth, and good-quality fruit. It produces large pears with yellow-green skin and sweet, mild-flavored flesh that can be enjoyed fresh or used for canning, preserves, baking, and other homemade recipes. Hood is a particularly good choice for North Florida and the Florida Panhandle because it requires fewer winter chill hours than traditional European pear varieties. The tree blooms early and normally produces fruit by midsummer. Hood pears should be picked while they are mature but still firm. Allowing the fruit to become completely ripe on the tree may cause the center to soften or break down. After picking, let the pears finish ripening indoors for better flavor and texture. Plant Details • Botanical name: Pyrus communis ‘Hood’• Pear type: Southern hybrid pear• Plant type: Deciduous fruit tree• Mature height: Approximately 15–20 feet• Mature width: Approximately 10–15 feet• Growth habit: Vigorous and upright• Sun requirements: Full sun, preferably six or more hours daily• USDA zones: Approximately Zones 7–9• Chill requirement: Approximately 160–260 chill hours• Bloom season: Early spring; usually around mid-March in North Florida• Harvest season: Usually around mid-July in North Florida• Fruit size: Large• Fruit color: Yellow-green• Fruit texture: Juicy with firm flesh when properly harvested• Flavor: Sweet and mild• Best uses: Fresh eating, canning, preserves, baking, poaching, and cooking• Pollination: Self-fruitful, but another compatible pear is recommended for the most dependable production• Disease resistance: Moderate resistance to fire blight and pear leaf spot Pollination Information Hood Pear may produce fruit when planted alone. However, planting another compatible pear nearby is recommended to improve pollination and help produce a larger, more dependable crop. Best Pollinator Partners • Flordahome Pear — the strongest early-blooming match• Baldwin Pear — a documented compatible variety where bloom periods overlap Pineapple Pear also blooms early and may provide some overlap, but Flordahome is the best choice to list as Hood’s primary pollinator. Kieffer and LeConte normally flower later and should not be presented as Hood’s best pollination partners. Bloom times can vary depending on winter temperatures and the growing location. Bees and other pollinating insects are still needed to carry pollen between the flowers. North Florida Growing Note Hood Pear blooms early, so avoid planting it in a low area where cold air settles. Open flowers may be injured if temperatures fall to approximately 26°F or below. Plant Hood in full sun and well-drained soil with enough room for good air circulation. The tree naturally develops upright branches, so young limbs may need to be spread or lightly pruned to form a wider, stronger canopy. Avoid excessive nitrogen fertilizer or severe pruning. Both can produce tender new growth that is more vulnerable to fire blight. Harvest Hood pears when they are full-sized, firm, and beginning to change from green to yellow-green. Do not leave them on the tree until they become completely soft. Allow the picked fruit to finish ripening at room temperature. 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.
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