- Heirloom
- Pear
- 78 (estimated) days to maturity (from transplant)
- Indeterminate
- Red
Red Pear
Heirloom pear from USA. The red counterpart to Yellow Pear: equally old, equally rampant, equally mild. Ready in about 78 days from transplant.
Single source · Updated Sep 9, 2026 · Values marked like this (estimated) are estimates.
At a glance
- Fruit type
- Pear ~1 oz (15–25 g) · Pear-shaped (estimated)
- Leaf type
- Regular leaf
- Days to harvest
- 78 days (estimated) from transplant · Mid-late
- 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
- Difficulty
- Moderate (estimated) 3/5
- Skin
-
- Red
- Interior
-
- Red
Plant size and habit
Tall · Indeterminate
6–8 ft (180–240 cm) (estimated) · Regular leaf
Red Pear 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
“The red counterpart to Yellow Pear: equally old, equally rampant, equally mild.”
Growing calendar
78 (estimated) days from transplant Mid-late
Timing shown for temperate climates; sow indoors 6–8 (estimated) weeks before your last frost date. Look up your last frost date by ZIP code →
Disease resistance
No documented disease resistances — protect this variety with good airflow and crop rotation.
Uses & tags
- Fresh & salads
- Snacking
- Heirloom classic
- Kid friendly
- High yield
Origin
Red Pear is one of the oldest American heirlooms, recorded since the 1700s, and the red counterpart to Yellow Pear; it shares its rampant growth and its mild flavour, in 8-10 g fruit. The pair are usually grown together for the visual contrast in a bowl rather than for any difference in taste.
Sources
Where to buy seeds
Prices rechecked dailyLinks may earn us a commission at no cost to you. Prices checked Nov 1, 2026.
All photos
Questions
How do you grow a Red Pear plant?
A Red Pear plant grows 6–8 ft (180–240 cm) tall (estimated). Space plants 24 in (60 cm) apart in rows 35 in (90 cm) apart (estimated). Start seed indoors 6–8 weeks before your last frost (estimated); it germinates in 7–14 days (estimated). It needs full sun.
How long does Red Pear take to mature?
Red Pear is ready in about 78 days from transplant.
Does Red Pear need staking?
Red Pear 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 Red Pear be grown in a container?
Red Pear is better suited to open ground or a greenhouse bed than a container.
Is Red Pear resistant to disease?
No disease resistance is documented for Red Pear.
