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Saint Denis

Pear

Saint Denis

Origin/History

Hedrick (1921) cites Downing's Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1869) as the primary reference for this variety.

Tree

Vigorous, with long dark reddish branches. (Downing)

Fruit

Size and Form: Small, turbinate. Downing describes the form as "angular"; Hedrick describes it as "uneven in its outline."

Stem: Long. (Downing)

Cavity: Not described in source.

Calyx: Open. (Downing)

Basin: Broad, shallow, and uneven. (Downing)

Skin: Yellowish ground color — Downing describes it as "yellowish, considerably shaded with crimson"; Hedrick as "pale yellow, with a crimson cheek." Both sources agree the skin is thickly sprinkled or dotted with crimson dots.

Flesh and Flavor: The two sources conflict on texture. Downing describes the flesh as "breaking, a little coarse, sweet, and aromatic, rots at the core unless gathered early." Hedrick describes it as "semi-melting, very juicy and sweet, with a fine aroma; good." Both agree on sweetness and a fine aroma.

Core and Seeds: Not described in source beyond Downing's note that the fruit rots at the core unless gathered early.

Season

Downing: last of August. Hedrick: August and September.

Uses

Not described in source.

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.

Other

Not described in source.

Book Sources

Described in 2 period pomological works

View original book sources (2)

Saint Denis.

Tree vigorous, with long dark reddish branches.

Fruit small, turbinate angular. Skin yellowish, considerably shaded with crimson, thickly sprinkled with crimson dots. Stalk long. Calyx open; broad, shallow, uneven basin. Flesh breaking, a little coarse, sweet, and aromatic, rots at the core unless gathered early. Last of August.

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

Saint Denis.

  1. Downing Fr. Trees Am. 849. 1869.

Fruit small, turbinate and uneven in its outline, pale yellow, with a crimson cheek and thickly dotted with crimson dots; flesh semi-melting, very juicy and sweet, with a fine aroma; good; Aug. and Sept.

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