Pear Comice Dwarf

Comice Dwarf Pear

Pyrus communis ‘Comice’
Dwarf Comice Pear / Doyenné du Comice / Royal Riviera Pear

‘Comice’ is a classic deciduous fruit tree producing large, rounded green to yellow-green pears, often with a red blush, and exceptionally sweet, juicy, buttery flesh. It blooms in spring with clusters of white flowers, carries glossy green foliage through summer, and ripens a late-season dessert pear crop that is best picked firm and ripened off the tree. ‘Comice’ is one of the best fresh-eating pears and is famous as the pear often used in premium gift boxes.

Type: Deciduous fruit tree / dwarf European pear
Mature Size: 8–10 ft. wide × 12–15 ft. tall as a dwarf variety; Burnt Ridge lists dwarf trees around 8 ft. wide × 12 ft. tall.
USDA Zones: 5a–9b
Form: Compact, upright to rounded fruit tree
Light: Full sun
Soil / Water: Fertile, well-drained soil; average moisture during establishment and fruit sizing; avoid wet, poorly drained sites
Bloom Time / Length: Spring; white flowers are late-blooming for a European pear and need compatible pollen for best fruit set.
Fruit Time: Late season; fruit is usually harvested firm as it begins to color, then chilled and ripened off the tree for best texture.
Wildlife: Flowers attract bees and other pollinating insects; ripe or dropped fruit may attract birds, deer, squirrels, raccoons, and other wildlife

Features & Landscape Uses:
Excellent for small orchards, edible landscapes, backyard fruit gardens, espalier, sunny borders, and premium dessert-fruit plantings. ‘Comice’ is especially valued for fresh eating because of its rich, melting texture and sweet aromatic flavor. The fruit is also good for salads, poaching, baking, preserves, and holiday fruit displays.

Care:
Plant in full sun with good air circulation. Prune annually during dormancy to maintain a strong central leader or open framework, control height, and encourage fruiting spurs. Thin fruit if crops are heavy to improve size and quality. Monitor for fire blight, pear psylla, codling moth, scab, rust, and leaf spot; remove diseased wood and fallen fruit promptly.

Pollination:
Requires cross-pollination for reliable crops. Compatible European pears commonly listed for ‘Comice’ include ‘Bartlett,’ ‘Moonglow,’ ‘Anjou,’ ‘Bosc,’ and ‘Seckel’ when bloom times overlap.

Chill Requirement:
Usually considered medium to high chill; exact chill-hour numbers vary by nursery source.

Plant type

Fruit Tree

Height

12-15'

Width

8-10'

Hardiness zones

5–9

Sunlight

Full Sun

Growth rate

Moderate

Bloom time

Spring

Flower color

White

Leaf color

Green

Fall color

Red

Attracts

Butterflies

Soil

Moist well-drained, Rich

Landscape use

Accent Plant, Home Orchard

Shape

Compact, Upright

Fruit

Yes

Fragrant

Yes

Drought tolerant

No