Russet Catherine

Pear

Russet Catherine

Origin/History

Early documentation from Parkinson's herbal work (1629) records this variety by name, indicating its presence in European cultivation by the early 17th century.

Tree

Not described in source.

Fruit

Size: Middle-sized.

General character: Described as "very good," indicating dessert-quality fruit.

Form, stem, cavity, calyx, basin, skin, flesh, core, seeds: Not described in source.

Season

Not described in source.

Uses

Not described in source.

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.

Other

The variety name "Russet Catherine" suggests the fruit has a russet (brownish, rough-textured) skin, consistent with the Catherine pear family of cultivars known historically. However, the surviving source text does not confirm these characteristics.

Book Sources

Described in 1 period pomological work

Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)

View original book sources (1)

Russet Catherine.

Parkinson Par. Ter. 592. 1629. "The Russet Catherine is a very good middle sized peare."

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