Conference pear trees
Pyrus communis - Picking season: Mid
- Self-fertility: Self-fertile
- Flowering group: 3
- Awards: RHS AGM (current) 1993
Conference is the most widely-grown pear variety in the UK. It crops heavily and reliably, and will grow in most situations.
It is also one of the few pear varieties to be reliably self-fertile in most situations, so you don't usually need another pollinator nearby. Furthermore it is a good pollinator for many other pears.
The skin is usually partially covered in golden-green russet.
A home-grown Conference pear, picked just before it is fully ripe, has an excellent flavour that should not disappoint.
Conference pear trees for sale
Pot-grown
All our pot-grown trees are grown for us to our specification by the Frank P Matthews nursery.
All pot-grown trees are suitable for planting out in the garden, some are suitable for growing in containers.
PG12-year bush-trained 11.5L pot-grown tree Quince Eline rootstock£62.00
Grown for us by Frank P Matthews nursery
Medium tree
(2m-3m after 10 years)
PG2Premium cordon 12L pot-grown tree Quince Eline rootstock£61.50
Grown for us by Frank P Matthews nursery
Small tree
(1.5m-2.5m after 10 years)
Out of stock
Please try next season
PG32-year bush-trained 12L pot-grown tree Quince A rootstock£57.75
Grown for us by Frank P Matthews nursery
Large tree
(3m-5m after 10 years)
PG4Premium half-standard 12L pot-grown tree Quince A rootstock£63.50
Grown for us by Frank P Matthews nursery
Large tree
(3m-5m after 10 years)
Out of stock
Please try next season
Bare-root
BR11-year bare-root treeQuince Eline rootstock£39.75
Medium tree
(2m-3m after 10 years)
Out of stock
Please try next season
BR22-year bush-trained bare-root treeQuince Eline rootstock£47.95
Medium tree
(2m-3m after 10 years)
BR3Cordon-trained bare-root treeQuince Eline rootstock£49.00
Medium tree
(2m-3m after 10 years)
Out of stock
Please try next season
BR41-year bare-root treeQuince A rootstock£38.25
Large tree
(3m-5m after 10 years)
BR52-year bush-trained bare-root treeQuince A rootstock£47.50
Large tree
(3m-5m after 10 years)
Out of stock
Please try next season
BR61-year bare-root treePyrodwarf rootstock£40.50
Large tree
(3m-5m after 10 years)
Out of stock
Please try next season
BR72-year bare-root treePyrodwarf rootstock£49.00
Large tree
(3m-5m after 10 years)
BR81-year bare-root treePyrus c. Kirchensaller rootstock£38.25
Very large tree
(4m-7m 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.
Tree specification
Photos of trees as supplied |
Tree sizes and forms
Next deliveries
Order now for delivery from week commencing 24th February.
Delivery charges
Delivery for a single tree starts at £9.95, it is calculated based on your postcode.
Growing and Training
Conference is one of the easiest pears to grow, being less fussy than some other pear varieties, tolerant of late frosts and strong-growing. It is by far the best choice if you want to grow a pear in less than ideal conditions.
Unusually amongst pears, Conference is effectively self-fertile. However nearby pollination partners will help cropping - try Doyenne du Comice or Williams.
Conference will also pollinate some late-flowering Asian pears which overlap with its flowering time.
All pears tend to grow with a vertical habit, but this is particularly the case with Conference, which can have a distinctly columnar upright appearance.
Recommended pollinators for Conference pear trees
Conference is self-fertile, so you do not need another variety to pollinate it to produce fruit.
However you are likely to get a better crop if you plant any of the following pollinator varieties nearby.
If you are not sure about pollination requirements don't hesitate to ask us.
More pollinators >
WilliamsWilliams is a classic English pear, also known as Bartlett, with good flavour and quite easy to grow.
ObeliskA useful dwarf pear tree for small gardens, it grows with a tidy upright habit and is self-fertile.
BethAn easy and reliable early-season pear, with a very good melting flavour.
Winter NelisA late-season dessert pear from Belgium, with an excellent sweet flavour.
GinA rare English perry pear variety with good disease resistance and medium acid and tannins.
SensationA red-coloured sport of the popular Williams pear, with a similar good flavour.
GorhamA reliable early 20th century American pear, with a sweet creamy flesh.
History
Conference was developed by the Rivers Nursery of Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, in the second half of the 19th century. It is thought to be a seedling of a continental variety called Van Mons Leon Leclerc.
It was named after the National British Pear Conference held in 1885.
Conference characteristics
- Gardening skillBeginner
- Self-fertilitySelf-fertile
- Flowering group3
- Pollinating othersGood
- Fruit bearingSpur-bearer
- Climate suitabilityTemperate climatesMild damp climatesWarm climates
- Picking seasonMid
- CroppingHeavy
- Keeping (of fruit)2-3 weeks
- Food usesEating fresh
- Disease resistanceAverage
- Scab (Apple and Pear)Some resistance
- Fire blightSome susceptibility
- Country of originUnited Kingdom
- Period of origin1850 - 1899
- Fruit colourGreen - light
- AwardsRHS AGM (current)
Similar varieties
Conference Moors GiantMoors Giant is a natural sport of the popular Conference pear - all the same qualities, but with much larger fruit size.
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.
Find out more
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.
Find out more.
