Pear Daisui Li Asian Dwarf

Daisui Pear

Pyrus pyrifolia ‘Daisui Li’
Dwarf Daisui Li Asian Pear

‘Daisui Li’ is a productive deciduous fruit tree and Asian pear cultivar known for very large, crisp, juicy fruit with white flesh. The fruit can be medium-sized to very large, sometimes listed up to about one pound, and is useful for fresh eating, drying, and long storage. It ripens after ‘Bartlett’ and ‘Shinko’ and was introduced by Ben T. Iwakin of the University of California in 1985. It is a cross between the Japanese pear ‘Kikusui’ and the Chinese pear ‘Tse Li.’

Type: Deciduous fruit tree / dwarf Asian pear
Mature Size: About 10 ft. wide × 10–15 ft. tall on semi-dwarf or dwarfing rootstock; standard forms may need about a 15 ft. circle.
USDA Zones: 4a–8b
Form: Spreading fruit tree; compact when grafted to dwarfing rootstock
Light: Full sun
Soil / Water: Adaptable, well-drained soil; average moisture during establishment and fruit sizing; avoid wet, poorly drained sites
Bloom Time / Length: Spring; white flowers require compatible pollen for reliable fruit set
Fruit Time: Late season; ripens after ‘Bartlett’ and ‘Shinko’ and stores well, up to about 6 months at 32°F under proper storage conditions.
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 Asian pear collections. ‘Daisui Li’ is especially useful where a large-fruited, crisp Asian pear with good storage potential is wanted. It is also noted for ornamental value and very good disease resistance, including fire blight resistance.

Care:
Plant in full sun with good air circulation. Prune annually during dormancy to maintain structure, control height, and encourage fruiting wood. Thin fruit when crops are heavy to improve size and reduce limb stress. Monitor for fire blight, pear psylla, codling moth, scab, rust, and Japanese beetle damage. Keep young trees watered during dry periods, especially while fruit is sizing.

Pollination:
Not self-fertile; plant with another compatible Asian pear for fruit production. Planting Justice also notes that ‘Daisui Li’ requires cross-pollination with another Asian pear variety.

Chill Requirement:
Not consistently listed in nursery sources; generally treated as a temperate Asian pear suited to zones 4–8.

Plant type

Fruit Tree

Height

10-15'

Width

10'

Hardiness zones

5–8

Sunlight

Full Sun

Growth rate

Moderate

Bloom time

Spring

Flower color

White

Leaf color

Green

Fall color

Red

Attracts

Bees, Butterflies

Soil

Moist well-drained, Rich

Landscape use

Accent Plant, Fruit, Home Orchard

Shape

Compact, Spreading

Fruit

Yes

Fragrant

Yes

Drought tolerant

No