Pitmaston Duchess pear trees
Pyrus communis - Picking season: Late
- Self-fertility: Not self-fertile
- Flowering group: 4
- Awards: RHS AGM (former) 1993
Pitmaston Duchess is a traditional English pear, described by the Victorian fruit expert Robert Hogg as "A very handsome pear of the finest quality".
Although usually catalogued as a dual-purpose pear, its excellent flavour means it should be considered first and foremost a dessert pear.
It also has particularly attractive spring blossom.
Pitmaston Duchess pear trees for sale
Bare-root
BR11-year bare-root treePyrodwarf rootstock£40.50
Large tree
(3m-5m after 10 years)
BR21-year bare-root treePyrus c. Kirchensaller rootstock£40.50
Very large tree
(4m-7m after 10 years)
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Call us on 01759 392007 or fill in our contact form.
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
Pitmaston Duchess is a triploid variety - one of the reasons for its larger than average fruit size. However this means it will not pollinate other pear varieties, so you will need at least one other compatible pear tree nearby to pollinate it, preferably two.
The tree is vigorous, as might be expected, but to achieve exhibition quality fruit size make sure you thin the fruitlets in late May.
Recommended pollinators for Pitmaston Duchess pear trees
Pitmaston Duchess 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 Pitmaston Duchess.
If you are not sure about pollination requirements don't hesitate to ask us.
More pollinators >
ConcordeA marriage of Conference and Comice - Concorde is easy to grow, heavy crops, excellent flavour.
ConferenceConference is a popular and reliable English pear, well-suited to the UK climate.
Winter NelisA late-season dessert pear from Belgium, with an excellent sweet flavour.
Beurre SuperfinA traditional French 19th century pear, widely considered one of the best for flavour.
GorhamA reliable early 20th century American pear, with a sweet creamy flesh.
History
Pitmaston Duchess was introduced in the 1840s by John Williams of Pitmaston in Worcestershire. It is a cross between two well-regarded European pears, Glou Morceau and Duchess d'Angouleme. Williams appears to have named it Pitmaston Duchess d'Angouleme, but the famous Victorian pomologist Robert Hogg decided to call it Pitmaston Duchess, and this is the name that has stuck.
Pitmaston Duchess characteristics
- Gardening skillAverage
- Self-fertilityNot self-fertile
- Flowering group4
- Pollinating othersPoor
- Fruit bearingSpur-bearer
- Picking seasonLate
- CroppingLight
- Keeping (of fruit)2-3 weeks
- Food usesEating freshCulinaryDual purpose
- Disease resistanceAverage
- Country of originUnited Kingdom
- Period of origin1800 - 1849
- Blossom colourWhite
- Fruit colourGreen / YellowRusset
- Flesh colourCream
- AwardsRHS AGM (former)
Similar varieties
Glou MorceauA traditional 18th century Belgian pear with a notably rich sweet flavour.
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
for all growers and retailers involved in selling plants in the UK.
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Guaranteed fruit trees
When you buy your fruit tree from Orange Pippin Fruit Trees we guarantee it for the first season in your garden whilst 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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