Doyenne White
Pear
Doyenne White
Origin/History
An old variety of European origin, bearing French and Dutch names among its many synonyms. Everywhere esteemed when well grown. (Elliott, 1865)
Tree
Hardy and productive, performing well on both pear and quince rootstock. (Elliott)
Fruit
Size and Form: Medium; obovate pyriform. (Elliott)
Stem: Medium length, brownish. (Elliott)
Cavity: Small, round. (Elliott)
Calyx: Small, closed. (Elliott)
Basin: Shallow, slightly plaited. (Elliott)
Skin: Clear pale yellow, regularly sprinkled with small dots; often a fine red cheek. (Elliott)
Flesh and Flavor: White, fine-grained, melting, juicy, buttery, delicious. (Elliott) — Also described as working, juicy, rich, and sweet. (Kelway, 1897)
Core/Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
September to November. (Elliott)
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Doyenne Panachee — A sub-variety differing from the type in its more pyriform shape and its coloring, which is yellow, green, and red striped. Juicy but not high-flavored. Ripens October. (Elliott)
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 1 period pomological work
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 34 catalogs (1845–1965) from California, England, Massachusetts, Oregon, Washington
- Winship's Nursery (Brighton Nurseries , operated by the Winship family), Brighton (Boston) , Massachusetts — 1845
- Hovey & Co. , Cambridge , Massachusetts — 1849
- Azell Bowditch (Nursery / Fruit Catalog) , Boston , Massachusetts — 1850
- St. Helena Nursery , Howell's Prairie, Marion County , Oregon — 1864
- W.R. Strong & Co. , Capital and Orange Hill Nurseries (Robert Williamson, prop.), Sacramento , California — 1886
- Puyallup & Yakima Nurseries , Puyallup, Washington (Lock Box 191) and North Yakima , Washington — 1892
- Milwaukie-Canby Nurseries , Canby, OR (and Milwaukie, OR) — 1893
- Oregon Wholesale Nurseries , Salem , Oregon — 1893
- Felix Gillet , Barren Hill Nursery, Nevada City , California — 1894
- Multnomah Nurseries , Russellville , Oregon — 1894
- Woodburn Nurseries , Woodburn, Marion Co. , Oregon — 1894
- Felix Gillet , Barren Hill Nursery, Nevada City , California — 1895
- Washington Nursery Co. , Toppenish , Washington — 1901
- Pacific Nursery Company (W. O. Hudson & A. D. Hudson) , Tangent , Oregon — 1903
- Russellville Nursery Co. , Russellville, OR (three miles east of Portland, one mile from Montavilla car line) — 1903
- Henderson Luelling / Traveling Nursery (historical recall) , Oregon — 1904
- The Dalles Nurseries , The Dalles , Oregon — 1906
- Russellville Nursery Co. , Montavilla Station, Portland, OR (three miles east of Portland, one mile from Montavilla car line) — 1907
- Carlton Nursery Co. , Carlton , Oregon — 1909
- Milton Nursery Co. (A. Miller & Sons , Proprietors), Milton , Oregon — 1909
- Washington Nursery Company , Toppenish , Washington — 1909
- Island Nurseries & Fruit Farm , Vashon (Vashon Island) , Washington — 1910
- Island Nurseries & Fruit Farm , Vashon (Vashon Island) , Washington — 1911
- James Veitch & Sons , Ltd., Royal Exotic Nursery, Chelsea, London (also Coombe Wood, Langley, and Feltham) , England — 1911
- Pacific Nursery Company , Portland , Oregon — 1912
- Washington Nursery Company , Toppenish , Washington — 1912
- Vineland Nurseries Company , Clarkston , Washington — 1912
- Van Holderbeke Nursery Co. , Incorporated, Spokane, Washington (nurseries at Otis Orchards WA, Pasadena WA, Kennewick WA) — 1913
- Island Nurseries & Fruit Farm , Vashon (Vashon Island) , Washington — 1914
- Island Nurseries & Fruit Farm , Vashon (Vashon Island) , Washington — 1915
- Island Nurseries & Fruit Farm , Vashon (Vashon Island) , Washington — 1916
- Island Nurseries & Fruit Farm , Vashon (Vashon Island) , Washington — 1917
- Hudson's Wholesale Nurseries , Tangent , Oregon — 1936
- OSU Mid-Columbia Experiment Station — 1965
View original book sources (2)
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Doyenne White.
White Dean, White Beurré, St. Michael, Virgalieu, White Autumn Beurré, Doyenne, Butter Pear, Regnier, Doyenne Blanc, St. Michael, Dean's, Beurré Blanc, Virgaloo, Warwick Bergamotte, Reigner, Bergaloo, Snow Pear, And twelve others of Yellow Butter, Pine Pear, French and Dutch.
An old variety, everywhere esteemed when well grown. Trees, hardy, productive either on Pear on Quince.
Fruit, medium, obovate pyriform; color, clear pale yellow, regularly sprinkled with small dots, often a fine red cheek; stem, medium, brownish; cavity, small, round; calyx, small, closed; basin, shallow, slightly plaited; flesh, white, fine-grained, melting, juicy, buttery, delicious. September to November.
The Doyenne Panachee is a sub-variety, differing from this in its more pyriform shape, and its color being yellow, green and red striped. It is juicy not high flavored. October.
— Kelway & Son, Kelways Manual (1897) (1897)working, juicy, rich, and sweet