Summer 2025Pre-order now for delivery September onwards.
Tel. 01759 392007

Conference pear trees

Pyrus communis
Conference pears
Conference has received the RHS Award of Garden MeritConference is listed in the RHS Plants for Pollinators
  • Picking season: Mid
  • Self-fertility: Self-fertile
  • Flowering group: 3
  • Awards: RHS AGM (current) 1993

Conference is the most widely-grown pear variety in the UK. It crops heavily and reliably, and will grow in most situations.

It is also one of the few pear varieties to be reliably self-fertile in most situations, so you don't usually need another pollinator nearby. Furthermore it is a good pollinator for many other pears.

The skin is usually partially covered in golden-green russet.

A home-grown Conference pear, picked just before it is fully ripe, has an excellent flavour that should not disappoint.

Conference pear trees for sale

Pot-grown

All our pot-grown trees are grown for us to our specification by the Frank P Matthews nursery.

All pot-grown trees are suitable for planting out in the garden, some are suitable for growing in containers.

  • PG12-year bush-trained 11.5L pot-grown tree, Quince Eline rootstock£63.00
    Grown for us by Frank P Matthews nursery
    Medium tree (2m-3m after 10 years)
  • PG2Premium cordon 12L pot-grown tree, Quince Eline rootstock£62.50
    Grown for us by Frank P Matthews nursery
    Small tree (1.5m-2.5m after 10 years)
  • PG32-year bush-trained 12L pot-grown tree, Quince A rootstock£58.75
    Grown for us by Frank P Matthews nursery
    Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years)
  • PG4Premium half-standard 12L pot-grown tree, Quince A rootstock£64.50
    Grown for us by Frank P Matthews nursery
    Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years)

Bare-root

  • BR11-year bare-root tree,Quince C rootstock£39.75
    Medium tree (2m-3m after 10 years)
  • BR21-year bare-root tree,Quince Eline rootstock£39.75
    Medium tree (2m-3m after 10 years)
  • BR31-year bare-root tree,Quince Eline interstem rootstock£38.25
    Medium tree (2m-3m after 10 years)
  • BR42-year bush-trained bare-root tree,Quince Eline rootstock£47.95
    Medium tree (2m-3m after 10 years)
  • BR52-year bush-trained bare-root tree,Quince C rootstock£49.50
    Medium tree (2m-3m after 10 years)
  • BR62-year bush-trained bare-root tree,Quince Adams rootstock£49.50
    Medium tree (2m-3m after 10 years)
  • BR7Cordon-trained bare-root tree,Quince Eline rootstock£49.00
    Medium tree (2m-3m after 10 years)
  • BR81-year bare-root tree,Quince A rootstock£38.25
    Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years)
  • BR92-year bush-trained bare-root tree,Quince A rootstock£47.50
    Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years)
  • BR102-year bare-root tree,Quince A rootstock£47.50
    Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years)
  • BR112-year half-standard bare-root tree,Quince A rootstock£48.50
    Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years)
  • BR121-year bare-root tree,Pyrodwarf rootstock£40.50
    Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years)
  • BR132-year bare-root tree,Pyrodwarf rootstock£49.00
    Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years)
  • BR141-year bare-root tree,Pyrus c. Kirchensaller rootstock£38.25
    Very large tree (4m-7m after 10 years)
  • BR152-year (1.75m) bare-root tree,Pyrus c. Kirchensaller rootstock£49.00
    Very large tree (4m-7m after 10 years)

Need help? Ask our fruit tree experts

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

Conference is one of the easiest pears to grow, being less fussy than some other pear varieties, tolerant of late frosts and strong-growing. It is by far the best choice if you want to grow a pear in less than ideal conditions.

Unusually amongst pears, Conference is effectively self-fertile. However nearby pollination partners will help cropping - try Doyenne du Comice or Williams.

Conference will also pollinate some late-flowering Asian pears which overlap with its flowering time.

All pears tend to grow with a vertical habit, but this is particularly the case with Conference, which can have a distinctly columnar upright appearance.

Recommended pollinators for Conference pear trees

Conference is self-fertile, so you do not need another variety to pollinate it to produce fruit. However you are likely to get a better crop if you plant any of the following pollinator varieties nearby. If you are not sure about pollination requirements don't hesitate to ask us. More pollinators >

  • Pollinator Williams
    Williams
    Williams is a classic English pear, also known as Bartlett, with good flavour and quite easy to grow.
  • Pollinator Beth
    Beth
    An easy and reliable early-season pear, with a very good melting flavour.
  • Pollinator Invincible
    Invincible
    Invincible is a high quality pear which can also cope with difficult conditions.
  • Pollinator Sensation
    Sensation
    A red-coloured sport of the popular Williams pear, with a similar good flavour.
  • Pollinator Obelisk
    Obelisk
    A useful dwarf pear tree for small gardens, it grows with a tidy upright habit and is self-fertile.
  • Pollinator Santa Claus
    Santa Claus
    As the name suggests, Santa Claus is a late ripening dessert pear which keeps until Christmas.
  • Pollinator Winter Nelis
    Winter Nelis
    A late-season dessert pear from Belgium, with an excellent sweet flavour.
  • Pollinator Fondante d'Automne
    Fondante d'Automne
    An old fashioned French pear with a notably sweet flavour.

History

Conference was developed by the Rivers Nursery of Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, in the second half of the 19th century. It is thought to be a seedling of a continental variety called Van Mons Leon Leclerc.

It was named after the National British Pear Conference held in 1885.


Conference characteristics

Growing

  • Gardening skillBeginner
  • Self-fertilitySelf-fertile
  • Flowering group3
  • Pollinating othersGood
  • Fruit bearingSpur-bearer
  • Climate suitabilityTemperate climatesMild damp climatesWarm climates

Using

  • Picking seasonMid
  • CroppingHeavy
  • Keeping (of fruit)2-3 weeks
  • Food usesEating fresh

Problems

  • Disease resistanceAverage
  • Scab (Apple and Pear)Some resistance
  • Fire blightSome susceptibility

Identification

  • Country of originUnited Kingdom
  • Period of origin1850 - 1899
  • Fruit colourGreen - light
  • AwardsRHS AGM (current)

Similar varieties

  • Conference Moors Giant
    Moors Giant is a natural sport of the popular Conference pear - all the same qualities, but with much larger fruit size.

British-grown trees Trees grown in the UK.

Unlike many garden centres and online retailers, the vast majority of our fruit trees are grown in the UK. Find out more.

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. Find out more.

Guaranteed fruit trees

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. Find out more.


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