Japanese Black Trifele
Single source · Reviewed Sep 9, 2026
Values marked like this (estimated) are model estimates, not confirmed from a source.
Heirloom pear from Russia. Russian despite the name: pear-shaped, smoky, dark and unusually crack-resistant. Ready in about 80 days from transplant.
- Heirloom
- 80 (estimated) days to maturity (from transplant)
- Indeterminate
- Medium fruit
- Moderate (estimated)
At a glance
- Fruit type
- Pear 4–6 oz (110–170 g) · Pear-shaped (estimated)
- Leaf type
- Potato leaf
- Plant height
- 6–8 ft (180–240 cm) (estimated) Tall
- Spacing
- 24 × 35 in (60 × 90 cm) (estimated)
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Position
- Handles open positions
- Growing sites
- Greenhouse · Polytunnel · Open ground
- Container growing
- Not suited to pots
- Skin
-
- Black
- Interior
-
- Red
Plant size and habit
Tall · Indeterminate
6–8 ft (180–240 cm) (estimated) · Potato leaf
Japanese Black Trifele is an indeterminate plant that keeps growing and setting fruit until frost; it needs a stake, cage, or trellis for the whole season. Expect a plant of 6–8 ft (180–240 cm).
Flavor
“Russian despite the name: pear-shaped, smoky, dark and unusually crack-resistant.”
Growing calendar
- Sow indoors
- Transplant out
- Harvest
Timing shown for temperate climates; sow indoors 6–8 weeks before your last frost date.
Disease resistance
No documented disease resistances — protect this variety with good airflow and crop rotation.
Uses & tags
- Fresh & salads
- Slicing
- Roasting
- Novelty color
- High flavor
- Rare collector
Origin
Despite the name this variety is Russian rather than Japanese: a commercial variety originally called Yaponskiy Trufel Chernyi that reached North America under a mistranslated name and kept it. The shape is closer to a Bartlett pear than to anything else in the catalogue, on a potato-leaf plant. The flesh is dense and dark with the smoky character of the Black Sea group, and the skin resists cracking better than most dark varieties.
Sources
Where to buy seeds
| Shop | Offer | Price | Packet | Stock | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato Growers Supply Company | Seeds | $3.25Checked Sep 16, 2026 | Pack (30 seeds) | Check availability | Buy |
- BuyTomato Growers Supply CompanySeeds
Pack (30 seeds)
Check availability
$3.25Checked Sep 16, 2026
Links may earn us a commission at no cost to you. Prices checked Sep 16, 2026; not live.
All photos
-
Japanese Black Trifele tomatoes ripening on the vine under cover -
A truss of Japanese Black Trifele tomatoes -
Japanese Black Trifele tomato plant in a garden bed with ripe fruit on the vine -
A ripe Japanese Black Trifele tomato held in a gardener's hand -
Freshly picked Japanese Black Trifele tomatoes -
Japanese Black Trifele tomato sliced in the kitchen
Questions
How long does Japanese Black Trifele take to mature?
Japanese Black Trifele is ready in about 80 days from transplant.
Does Japanese Black Trifele need staking?
Japanese Black Trifele is an indeterminate plant that keeps growing and setting fruit until frost; it needs a stake, cage, or trellis for the whole season. Expect a plant of 6–8 ft (180–240 cm).
Can Japanese Black Trifele be grown in a container?
Japanese Black Trifele is better suited to open ground or a greenhouse bed than a container.
Is Japanese Black Trifele resistant to disease?
No disease resistance is documented for Japanese Black Trifele.
See also
Other pear varieties people put next to this one.
Grows like this one
Indeterminate, mid-late, full sun. Same support, same calendar.
