Double-Fleur

Pear

Double-Fleur

Origin and History

Ancient and unknown origin. This variety has a long documented history in European horticultural literature, mentioned by Nicholas de Bonnefonds in 1651 in the first edition of Le Jardinier Francais, by Claude Saint-Etienne in 1660, by Merlet in 1675, and subsequently included in major pomological references including Duhamel Trait. Arb. Fr. (1768), Langley's Pomona (1729), Lindley's Guide to the Orchard and Kitchen Garden (1831), and Mas Pomologie Générale (1879).

Tree

Not described in source.

Fruit

Size and Form: Above medium, globular or globular-turbinate, generally enlarged on one side more than on the other.

Skin: Green in immature fruit, becoming yellow when ripe; dark red or pale purple on the side exposed to the sun.

Flesh and Flavor: Greenish, semi-fine, quite crisp, juicy, sweet, rather sugary.

Core and Seeds: Not described in source.

Stem and Cavity: Not described in source.

Ornamental Character

Prized for ornament on account of its large, double flowers bearing from twelve to fifteen petals, which are described as very handsome.

Season and Uses

Available from February to May. Excellent culinary pear.

Subtypes and Variants

Also known as Double Blossom.

Book Sources

Described in 1 period pomological work

Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)

View original book sources (1)

Double-Fleur. i. Duhamel Trait. Arb. Fr. 2:177. 1768. 2. Mas Pom. Gen. 4:123, fig. 254. 1879. Double Blossom. 3. Langley Pomona 132. 1729. 4. Lindley Guide Orch. Card. 412, 1831. Of ancient and unknown origin. Mentioned by Nicholas de Bonnefonds in 1651 in his first edition of the Jardinier Francais, by Merlet in 1675 and Claude Saint-Etienne in 1660. Worth growing for ornament, its large, double flowers, with from twelve to fifteen petals, being very handsome. Fruit above medium, globular or globular-turbinate, generally enlarged on one side more than on the other, green but yellow when ripe, dark red or pale purple on the side of the sun; flesh greenish, semi-fine, quite crisp, juicy, sweet, rather sugary; excellent culinary pear; Feb. to May.

— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)

Clairville Double Blossom Fleur-Double Gefülltblühende Birne Gros-Kairville Rose d'Hiver Rose d’Hiver