Description
Conference is one of Europe’s most widely grown pears—and for good reason. Sweet, aromatic, and slightly firm even when fully ripe, Conference offers reliable fruit set, exceptional storage life, and consistent productivity. Its elongated shape, smooth green skin, and lightly russeted finish make it visually distinctive and easily recognizable.
Grafted onto a semi-dwarfing rootstock, this tree remains in the manageable 12–15 ft range, ideal for home orchards. The compact size improves accessibility for pruning, training, and harvesting while maintaining strong vigor and outstanding fruit quality.
Conference is partially self-fertile, capable of producing fruit on its own—but yields and fruit size improve significantly with a pollination partner such as Bartlett, Anjou, Bosc, or Comice planted within 20–30 feet.
Overview
- Europe’s most popular pear—sweet, aromatic, and flavorful.
- Semi-dwarf size makes it easy to manage and harvest.
- Partially self-fertile, but heavier crops with a pollinator.
- Excellent storage life—keeps flavor and texture for months.
- Dependable producer even in cooler summer climates.
Growing Details
Latin Name: Pyrus communis ‘Conference’
Site and Soil: 1/2 day to full day of sun; well-drained soil
Rootstock: OHxF 97 (semi-dwarf)
Hardiness: USDA Zone 5–9
Bearing Age: 1–3 years
Size at Maturity: 12–15 ft — compact and manageable
Bloom Time: Mid-season
Ripening Time: Late September to October
Pollination: Partially self-fertile; better yields with a pollination partner
Pests & Diseases: Good vigor and reliability; moderate fire blight tolerance
Yield: Heavy, consistent crops when mature
Additional Notes
- Nerdy fact: Conference was introduced in England in 1885 and became famous for reliably fruiting in cool, unpredictable climates—one of the few pears that sets well even in short-summer regions.
- One of the best storage pears—keeps firm and flavorful for months.
- Semi-dwarfing rootstock keeps the tree small enough for easy pruning and harvesting.
- Explore more pear varieties in our collection: Pear Trees
