Autumn 2024Order now for delivery from week commencing 14th October for pot grown trees or December for bare-root or mixed tree orders.
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Josephine de Malines pear trees

Pyrus communis
Josephine de Malines
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Josephine de Malines has received the RHS Award of Garden MeritJosephine de Malines is listed in the RHS Plants for Pollinators
  • Picking season: Very late
  • Self-fertility: Not self-fertile
  • Flowering group: 4
  • Awards: RHS AGM (current) 1993

Josephine de Malines is a traditional winter pear, noted for its high quality flavour and excellent keeping qualities.

Pick the pears as late as possible, and then keep them in a fridge or cold garage. Bring them indoors to ripen in a fruit bowl.

Josephine de Malines pear trees for sale

Bare-root

  • BR11-year bare-root tree Pyrodwarf rootstock £40.50
    Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years)
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Next deliveries

Order now for delivery from week commencing 14th October for pot grown trees or December for bare-root or mixed tree orders.

Delivery charges

Delivery for a single tree starts at £9.95, it is calculated based on your postcode.

Growing and Training

Josephine de Malines is a weak-growing variety, and therefore best grown on the more vigorous rootstocks and/or in rich soils. It is however an excellent cropper - and a good example of the apparent contradiction that weak-growing varieties can nevertheless crop heavily.

The tree is hardy and reliable and will survive in most conditions. However for fruit production it is important to note that Josephine de Malines is a very late-ripening variety and therefore is best grown in areas where warm dry weather persists into late autumn.

History

Raised in the 1830s by fruit enthusiast Major Esperen from Malines in northern Belgium. This city is today more usually known by its Flemish name Mechelen. The Major named his new variety after his wife Josephine.

Major Esperen is also thought to have raised the green gage Reine Claude de Bavay, which is probably the most widely-planted of all green gages.


Josephine de Malines characteristics

Growing

  • Gardening skillAverage
  • Self-fertilityNot self-fertile
  • Flowering group4
  • Pollinating othersAverage
  • Fruit bearingPartial tip-bearer
  • Climate suitabilityTemperate climatesWarm climates

Using

  • Picking seasonVery late
  • CroppingHeavy
  • Keeping (of fruit)1-2 months
  • Food usesEating fresh

Problems

  • Disease resistanceAverage
  • Scab (Apple and Pear)Some resistance

Identification

  • Country of originBelgium
  • Period of origin1800 - 1849
  • Blossom colourWhite
  • Fruit colourGreen / Yellow
  • AwardsRHS AGM (current)

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
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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. Find out more.

This variety description was researched and written by Orange Pippin staff. Last checked: 2023.