Benita Rafzas® asian pear trees
Pyrus communis x Pyrus pyrifolia Benita Rafzas is an unusual hybrid pear, which combines the melting sweet flavours of a classic European pear with the crisp juicy texture of an Asian or "Nashi" pear.
As with all Asian pears, the fruits actually resemble golden yellow apples, sometimes with some russet. They also have the crunchy crispness of an apple.
In the UK Benita Rafzas is likely to ripen in late August and early September - around the same time as the well-known Williams pear. The fruits can be eaten fresh, or stored in a fridge for a month or so.
Benita Rafzas asian pear trees for sale
Pot-grown
All pot-grown trees are suitable for planting out in the garden, some are suitable for growing in containers.
PG12-year bush-trained 12L pot-grown tree Quince A rootstock £58.00
Large tree
(3m-5m after 10 years)
Out of stock
Please try next season
Bare-root
BR11-year bare-root tree Quince A rootstock £40.50
Large tree
(3m-5m after 10 years)
Out of stock
Please try next season
Need help? Ask our fruit tree experts
Call us on 01759 392007 or fill in our contact form.
Delivery charges
Delivery for a single tree starts at £9.95, it is calculated based on your postcode.
Growing and Training
Benita Rafzas is best treated as an Asian pear when it comes to caring for it in the garden. That means planting it in full sun and giving it plenty of space.
Cropping is generally very light in UK conditions.
It will cross-pollinate with both Asian and European pears which are in flower at the same time - it flowers near the start of the pear blossom season. It is cold-hardy and generally disease-free.
History
Benita Rafzas was developed from a late-flowering French pear (Pyrus communis) called General Leclerc, which is possibly related to the highly-regarded Doyenne du Comice. It was pollinated with the pollen of an Asian pear variety (Pyrus pyrifolia) called Hosui. It was raised by Peter Hauenstein of Rafz, Switzerland, in the 1980s. (He also developed the Rubinette apple, perhaps the best flavoured of all apples).
Benita Rafzas characteristics
- Gardening skillAverage
- Self-fertilityNot self-fertile
- Flowering group2
- Pollinating othersAverage
- Climate suitabilityTemperate climatesWarm climates
- Picking seasonEarly
- CroppingLight
- Keeping (of fruit)1-2 months
- Food usesEating fresh
- Country of originSwitzerland
- Period of origin1950 - 1999
- Blossom colourWhite
- Fruit colourYellow
- Flesh colourWhite
Similar varieties
KumoiOne of the most popular Asian pears, with a firm flesh and sweet flavour.
ShinseikiThis popular Asian pear variety is well suited to the UK climate, and produces crisp sweet-flavoured pears.
British-grown trees 
Unlike many garden centres and online retailers, the vast majority of our fruit trees are grown in the UK.
Find out more.
In addition, all our trees are certified under the Plant Healthy scheme, supervised by the Plant Health Alliance.
Other stakeholders include Defra and the RHS. The scheme aims to improve UK biosecurity by setting standards
for all growers and retailers involved in selling plants in the UK.
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Guaranteed fruit trees
When you buy your fruit tree from Orange Pippin Fruit Trees we guarantee it for the first season in your garden whilst it gets established. If it doesn't grow successfully, we'll either replace it the following season or offer a refund - subject to some conditions.
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