Hosui
Pyrus pyrifolia
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Description
Nashi 'Hosui' (Pyrus pyrifolia) is one of the finest Japanese pears for New Zealand gardens — a superb dessert fruit with large, round, russeted golden-brown fruit and white-flecked skin. The flesh is crisp, fine-textured, sweet and very juicy with just enough acid for balance, and the flavour is rich and refreshing eaten fresh off the tree. It is a mid-season variety ripening slightly earlier than 'Nijiseiki' (mid to late summer), and a real advantage is keeping quality: 'Hosui' stores for two to three months under refrigeration, far longer than most nashi. Trees are vigorous when young then settle, reaching 5-6 m, and respond well to central-leader training and espalier. 'Hosui' is only partially self-fertile, so plant it with 'Nijiseiki' (or a double-grafted tree) for heavy crops. Give it a sunny, sheltered site with fertile, well-drained soil, thin fruitlets for size, and enjoy one of the great eating pears over an extended season.
Characteristics
Fruit Size
Large
Skin Colour
Russeted golden-brown
Flesh Texture
Crisp
Harvest Timing (NZ)
Mid
Storage Life
Good
Pollination Group / Partners
Partially self-fertile — plant with Nijiseiki for best crops
Notes
Vigorous when young, slowing with maturity; grows to about 5-6 m on communis rootstock; train to a central leader. Mid-season; ripens slightly earlier than Nijiseiki (mid to late summer). Stores 2-3 months refrigerated. Needs a pollinator partner for full crops; nashi also pollinate European pears. Sunny sheltered site, 4-5 m spacing, cool-cold winters and mild summers best.
Fruit Use
Dessert
Flavour Profile
Sweet and juicy with good acid balance
Country Availability
Known to be available in 1 country