Princesse Charlotte

Pear

Princesse Charlotte

Origin/History

Raised in 1846 by Major Espéren (also spelled Esperen) at Mechlin, Belgium. Hedrick notes the variety is evidently of the Passe Colmar race, but quite distinct from that variety. Referenced in Leroy, Dict. Pom. 2:558, fig. (1869) and Hogg, Fruit Man. 633 (1884).

Tree

A vigorous tree, productive (Downing). Young wood dull yellow brown (Downing). Not further described in sources.

Fruit

Size: Medium. All three sources agree.

Form: Sources conflict. Downing describes the fruit as oblate pyriform; Thomas as short pyriform. Hedrick describes it as variable in form, much bossed and rather contorted, turbinate-obtuse to globular-ovate.

Stem: Stout and long (Downing).

Cavity: Slight (Downing).

Calyx: Not described in sources.

Basin: Broad and shallow (Downing).

Skin: Ground color greenish (Downing, Thomas). Hedrick gives more detail: grass-green with a brown or orange glow on the sunny side, dotted and marbled with russet.

Flesh and Flavor: Sources conflict on texture and color. Downing describes the flesh as yellowish, pinkish at the centre, melting, juicy, sweet, and pleasant, rating it Good. Hedrick describes the flesh as white, semi-fine, semi-melting, watery and gritty, but juicy, saccharine, and acidulous, with a fine aroma, calling it a fine pear. Thomas rates it of little value in the American context.

Core/Seeds: Not described in sources.

Season

November (Downing, Hedrick); Hedrick adds "and later." Thomas gives October.

Uses

Assessments conflict by source and region. Downing rates it Good; Hedrick calls it a fine pear. Thomas considers it of little value in the American context, suggesting poor performance under American conditions.

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in sources.

Book Sources

Described in 3 period pomological works

View original book sources (3)

Princess Charlotte.

Raised by Major Esperen. A vigorous tree, productive. Young wood dull yellow brown.

Fruit medium, oblate pyriform. Color greenish. Stalk stout and long in a slight cavity. Basin broad and shallow. Flesh yellowish pinkish at centre, melting, juicy, sweet, pleasant. Good. November.

— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)

Princesse Charlotte,

Leroy Diet. Pom. 2:558, fig. 1869.

Hogg Fruit Man. 633. 1884.

A pear raised in 1846 by Major Espéren, Mechlin, Bel. Fruit medium, variable in form, much bossed and rather contorted, turbinate-obtuse to globular-ovate, grass-green with brown or orange glow on the sunny side, dotted and marbled with russet; flesh white, semi-fine, semi-melting, watery and gritty, but juicy, saccharine, acidulous, with a fine aroma; a fine pear, evidently of the Passe Colmar race, but quite distinct from that variety; Nov. and later.

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

Princess Charlotte. Medium, short pyriform, greenish; of little value here. October. Belgian.

— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)

Princess Charlotte Princesse-Royale de Brabant Prinzessin Charlotte