Catillac pear trees
Pyrus communis - Picking season: Late
- Self-fertility: Not self-fertile
- Flowering group: 3
- Awards: RHS AGM (former) 1993
Catillac is a traditional French pear variety, first described in "Le Jardinier Francais", a popular French gardening book published in the 1650s during the reign of Louis XIV. There is some evidence this variety was grown in the royal orchards at Versailles at this time.
Unlike most modern pears, it is not usually eaten fresh, but is brought to perfection by slow poaching or cooking.
Catillac pears are fairly large, and store well, and the trees are also big and reliable heavy-croppers, and quite disease-resistant - all important characteristics before modern refrigeration.
As well as the interesting fruits, Catillac features particularly attractive spring blossom.
If you want to create a traditional French pear dessert as might have been served at the court of King Louis XIV, this is the variety you need.
Catillac pear trees for sale
Bare-root
BR11-year bare-root tree,Quince A rootstock£38.25
Large tree
(3m-5m after 10 years)
BR21-year bare-root tree,Pyrodwarf rootstock£40.50
Large tree
(3m-5m after 10 years)
BR32-year (1.75m) bare-root tree,Pyrus c. Kirchensaller rootstock£49.00
Very large tree
(4m-7m after 10 years)
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Tree specification
Photos of trees as supplied |
Tree sizes and forms
Pre-ordering
Pre-order now for delivery in September 2025
Delivery charges
Delivery for a single tree starts at £9.95, it is calculated based on your postcode.
Growing and Training
Catillac is a vigorous and heavy-cropping variety. It grows well in most climates, including the UK.
Catillac is a triploid variety and will not cross-pollinate other pears, but is easily pollinated by most other mid or late-flowering pear varieties.
The fruit size is relatively large by pear standards - provided you thin the fruitlets in late spring.
Recommended pollinators for Catillac pear trees
Catillac is not self-fertile and is also a poor pollinator of other varieties. Ideally you need two other different but compatible varieties planted nearby in order to produce fruit, or one compatible self-fertile variety.
The following varieties are good pollinators for Catillac.
If you are not sure about pollination requirements don't hesitate to ask us.
More pollinators >
ConferenceConference is a popular and reliable English pear, well-suited to the UK climate.
WilliamsWilliams is a classic English pear, also known as Bartlett, with good flavour and quite easy to grow.
BethAn easy and reliable early-season pear, with a very good melting flavour.
SensationA red-coloured sport of the popular Williams pear, with a similar good flavour.
MoonglowA high quality early season dessert and culinary pear, very resistant to fireblight.
GinA rare English perry pear variety with good disease resistance and medium acid and tannins.
Winnals LongdonA traditional Herefordshire perry pear variety, produces a low tannin perry.
ThornAn ancient pear variety from Gloucestershire, now used mainly for perry production.
History
Catillac pear was described by Nicolas de Bonnefond (or Bonnefons) in his book "Le Jardinier Francais", which was published several times (due to its immediate popularity) from about 1650 - 1706. He refers to it as Cadillac, which may suggest its origins, in the town of Cadillac near Bordeaux in south-western France. De Bonnefond states it is best used in the period December-January.
By de Bonnedond's time Catillac was widely grown in France, and is believed to have been planted in King Louis XIV's "Potager du Roi", the fruit and vegetable garden attached to the Palace of Versailles, which was constructed between 1678 and 1683. It is likely that de Bonnefond was employed by Louis XIV at some stage.
Catillac characteristics
- Gardening skillAverage
- Self-fertilityNot self-fertile
- Flowering group3
- Pollinating othersPoor
- Climate suitabilityTemperate climatesWarm climates
- Picking seasonLate
- CroppingHeavy
- Keeping (of fruit)3 months or more
- Food usesCulinary
- Disease resistanceGood
- Scab (Apple and Pear)Very resistant
- Country of originFrance
- Period of origin1600 - 1649
- Blossom colourWhite
- Fruit colourYellow / Red
- AwardsRHS AGM (former)
Similar varieties
CornishgoldAn unusual and ancient juicing and culinary pear discovered in a garden in Cornwall, also known as the Treburrow Pear. Self-fertile and tolerant of difficult climates.
British-grown trees 
Unlike many garden centres and online retailers, the vast majority of our fruit trees are grown in the UK.
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In addition, all our trees are certified under the Plant Healthy scheme, supervised by the Plant Health Alliance.
Other stakeholders include Defra and the RHS. The scheme aims to improve UK biosecurity by setting standards
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When you buy your fruit tree from Orange Pippin Fruit Trees we guarantee it for the first season in your garden while it gets established. If it doesn't grow successfully, we'll either replace it the following season or offer a refund, subject to some conditions.
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