Hardly anyone can remember ever seeing a pear tree with thorns. Is there perhaps a mix-up? Or is the spiky variant simply not in demand and therefore not widespread? The following text provides the answer.
Are there varieties of pears with prickles?
Yes, there is a pear tree that has thorns. This is theWild pear, also known as the wood pear. When young, its branches have many short side shoots that end very pointedly. The numerous cultivated pears that emerge from it have no spines.
Can all pears sprout thorns?
Several thousand different varieties of pears are grown worldwide, and new varieties are still being bred. There is also theWild pear(Pyrus pyraster), also called the wood pear. The wild form is the “mother” of the cultivated pears. The branches of the wild pear are covered with thorns. However, she was not allowed to pass on this tendency to form spines to the cultivated varieties, as such a trait is not desirable in breeding. Thereforecultivars do not have spines
What does the prickly pear tree look like?
The wild pear is summer green like the cultivated pear. It can grow as a two to four meter high shrub or reach a height of 8 to 20 meters as a tree. This is what it looks like in detail:
- Trunk and branches are covered with gray, small, flaky bark
- young wild pears are thorny
- many short side branches ending with a piercing tip
- Leaves are approx. 5 cm long and roundish
- they are long-stemmed and sawn
- Top of leaf has a striking shine
- Underside is bluish-green
- white flowers open in April/May
- Fruits are approx. 4 to 6 cm large and green-yellowish
- do not have a pear shape, they are more round-ovoid
Where does the wild pear grow?
The natural distribution area of this wild fruit extends fromWestern Europeto theCaucasusIt prefers warmer regions, is onFound in meadowsand atforest edges. The wild fruit can reach an age of up to 150 years.
Can I cultivate wild pears in my home garden?
The undemanding wild pearcan be planted in a home garden. That's actually a good idea, as this tree species is considered to be threatened with extinction in some federal states.
Are the fruits of the prickly wild pear edible?
The fruits of the wood pear are not considered edible raw because they are woody and quite sour. Butprocessed, the wild pears are edible and even tasty. Incidentally, the flowers of this type of pear are also a great salad ingredient, can be candied or used to make lemonade.
Tip
Attention: Not every wild pear is edible
The Chinese wild pear is cultivated in some gardens. But it is purely an ornamental tree. Don't be fooled by the name or by the fact that their fruits look like fruit. They are inedible!
