Reine d'Hiver

Pear

Reine d'Hiver

Origin/History

Not described in source. Hedrick (1921) cites Downing's Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1869 edition, p. 841) as an early reference, placing the variety in American pomological literature by at least that date.

Tree

Not described in source.

Fruit

Size and Form: Small. Downing describes the form as roundish oblate; Hedrick gives globular-oblate.

Skin: Yellow, with a brownish tinge on the cheek exposed to the sun, and nettings, patches, and dots of russet.

Stem, Cavity, Calyx, Basin: Not described in source.

Flesh and Flavor: Yellowish, melting, juicy, sweet, pleasant. Rated Good.

Core and Seeds: Not described in source.

Season

November.

Uses

Not described in source.

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.

Other

Both sources are in close agreement, with Hedrick's account closely following Downing's wording. The sole variation is in form: "roundish oblate" (Downing) versus "globular-oblate" (Hedrick).

Book Sources

Described in 2 period pomological works

View original book sources (2)

Reine d'Hiver.

Fruit small, roundish oblate. Skin yellow, with a brownish tinge in sun, and nettings, patches, and dots of russet. Flesh yellowish, juicy, melting, sweet, pleasant. Good. November.

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

Reine d'Hiver. i. Downing Fr. Trees Am. 841. 1869. Fruit small, globular-oblate, yellow, with a brownish tinge on the cheek exposed to the sun and with nettings, patches and dots of russet; flesh yellowish, melting, juicy, sweet, pleasant; good; Nov.

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

Königin der Birnen Königin der Birnen (Coloma’s) Reine des Poires de Coloma Reine d’Hiver (irrig). Leroi/