Orange d'Hiver
PearOrange d'Hiver
Origin/History
A very old pear, probably of French origin. Referenced as early as 1768 in Duhamel's Traité des Arbres Fruitiers (vol. 2, p. 144, pl. XIX, fig. 4), and subsequently recorded by Christ (1817), Lindley (1831), and Downing (1869). Both Downing and Hedrick note its age, Downing calling it simply "an old Pear."
Tree
Rather vigorous. Said to be a late but heavy bearer; Downing independently notes it as very productive.
Fruit
Size and Form: Medium. Round, somewhat flattened at base and apex.
Stem: Medium long, stout, inserted in a small, oblique cavity.
Cavity: Small, oblique.
Calyx: Small, open.
Basin: Small, round, very shallow.
Skin: Bright yellow, covered all over with numerous brown dots and lined with russet.
Flesh/Flavor: White, rather gritty, firm, crisp, very juicy, with a pleasant, slightly musky, aromatic flavor.
Core/Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
Downing gives November–December. Hedrick gives February to April. These accounts conflict substantially; the discrepancy may reflect different storage or handling conditions, regional differences, or distinct selections passing under the same name.
Uses
A good cooking (baking) pear and a fair dessert pear. Downing specifically notes it is not desirable for table use but is a good baking pear — a characterization somewhat at odds with Hedrick's "fair dessert pear," though both agree cooking use is primary.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Known in German as Winter Pomeranzenbirne and in English as Winter Orange, both names referencing the orange-like character of the fruit.
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 — listed as Winter Orange
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.