Wild or European Pear is a small tree reaching 10m (35ft) in height with thorny twigs. It has white flowers in spring which are followed by small globular fruit that are hard and sharp to taste. They become sweeter when ripe but easily rot.
It is distinguished from the cultivated forms by the almost round leaves and the thorny twigs. It can form a dense thorny hedge.
- Does best in deep fertile soils but will cope with most conditions adequately
- Prefers full sun
- Orange/yellow autumn colour
- White flowers appear in March