Pear 'Josefine de Malines'

This classic Belgian winter pear is widely regarded by UK fruit connoisseurs as one of the finest flavoured late-season varieties. It forms a tree with a somewhat weeping, spreading habit that is relatively slow-growing, making it suitable for smaller gardens or training as an espalier. It is fully hardy across most of Britain. The blossoms appear in mid-spring and are somewhat more frost-resistant than other pears. The fruit is small to medium-sized, often rather unremarkable in appearance with a dull green skin that becomes tinged with yellow. However, the internal quality is superb; the flesh is tinged with salmon-pink, exceptionally melting, and sweet with a rich, aromatic perfume. It is harvested in late October and requires a period of cool storage to ripen, reaching its peak for Christmas. It is a reliable cropper once established and prefers a warm, sheltered spot to develop its full sugar potential.

Sun: Full sun.

Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil.

Hardiness: H6 — down to −20°C.

Flowering: Apr, May.