Orange d'Hiver
PearOrange d'Hiver
Origin and History
Orange d'Hiver (also called Winter Orange, and known in German as Winter Pomeranzenbirne) is a very old pear, probably of French origin. It is referenced as early as 1768 in Duhamel's Traité des Arbres Fruitiers (Vol. 2, Pl. XIX, fig. 4), and subsequently by Downing (1869), Christ (1817), and Lindley (1831).
Tree
Rather vigorous. Said to be a late but heavy bearer. Downing characterizes it as very productive.
Fruit
Size and Form: Medium. Round, somewhat flattened at both base and apex.
Skin: Bright yellow, covered all over with numerous brown dots and lined with russet.
Stem: Medium long, stout, inserted in a small, oblique cavity.
Calyx and Basin: Calyx small, open, set in a small, round, very shallow depression.
Flesh and Flavor: Flesh white, rather gritty, firm, crisp, very juicy, with a pleasant, slightly musky, aromatic flavor.
Season
Conflicting reports: Downing gives the season as November–December. Hedrick gives February to April. These accounts may reflect different stages — harvest or cellar entry versus peak eating condition — or may represent genuine regional or strain variation. The discrepancy is notable and both datings should be considered when using season for identification.
Uses
A good cooking (baking) pear. Hedrick rates it a fair dessert pear as well; Downing considers it not desirable for the table, recommending it primarily for baking.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 1 catalog (1911) from England
- James Veitch & Sons , Ltd., Royal Exotic Nursery, Chelsea, London (also Coombe Wood, Langley, and Feltham) , England — 1911
View original book sources (2)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Orange d'Hiver.
Winter Orange.
Fruit medium; an old Pear, very productive; not desirable for table, but a good baking Pear. November, December.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Orange d'Hiver.
- Duhamel Trait. Arb. Fr. 2:144, Pl. XIX, fig. 4. 1768. 2. Downing Fr. Trees Am. 824. 1869. Winter Pomeranzenbirne. 3. Christ Handb. 507. 1817. Winter Orange. 4. Lindley Guide Orch. Card. 390. 1831.
This is a very old pear, probably of French origin. Tree rather vigorous, said to be a late but heavy bearer. Fruit medium, round, somewhat flattened at base and apex, bright yellow, covered all over with numerous brown dots and lined with russet; stem medium long, stout, inserted in a small, oblique cavity; calyx small, open, set in a small, round, very shallow depression; flesh white, rather gritty, firm, crisp, very juicy, with a pleasant, slightly musky, aromatic flavor; a good cooking pear and a fair dessert pear; Feb. to Apr.