Autumn 2024Order now for delivery from week commencing 25th November for pot grown trees or December for bare-root or mixed tree orders.
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Williams pear trees

Pyrus communis
Check pollinators >
Williams is listed in the RHS Plants for Pollinators
  • Picking season: Early
  • Self-fertility: Partially self-fertile
  • Flowering group: 3
  • Awards: RHS AGM (former) 1993

One of the oldest English dessert pears, it was discovered in the late 18th century and quickly became popular. In England and Europe it is known as Williams or sometimes Williams Bon Chretien, after the nurseryman who first propagated it, whereas in North America it is usually known as Bartlett.

If you buy tinned pears, they are very likely to be this variety. Don't let this put you off though - Williams is a good early-season pear variety for the gardener too, with a very good flavour and fairly easy to grow.

Williams 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.

  • PG1Premium cordon 12L pot-grown tree Quince Eline rootstock £60.50< 5 in stock
    Small tree (1.5m-2.5m after 10 years)
  • PG22-year bush-trained 12L pot-grown tree Quince A rootstock £57.75
    Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years)

Bare-root

  • BR12-year bush-trained bare-root tree Quince Eline rootstock £47.95
    Small tree (1.5m-2.5m after 10 years)
  • BR2Cordon-trained bare-root tree Quince Eline rootstock £49.00
    Small tree (1.5m-2.5m after 10 years)
    Out of stock
    Please try next season
  • BR31-year bare-root tree Quince A rootstock £38.25
    Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years)
  • BR42-year bush-trained bare-root tree Quince A rootstock £47.50
    Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years)
  • BR52-year half-standard bare-root tree Quince A rootstock £48.50
    Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years)
  • BR61-year bare-root tree Pyrodwarf rootstock £40.50
    Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years)
  • BR72-year bare-root tree Pyrodwarf rootstock £49.00
    Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years)
  • BR81-year bare-root tree Pyrus c. Kirchensaller rootstock £38.25< 5 in stock
    Very large tree (4m-7m after 10 years)
Need help? Ask our fruit tree experts

Call us on 01759 392007 or fill in our contact form.

Next deliveries

Order now for delivery from week commencing 25th November for pot grown trees or December for bare-root or mixed tree orders.

Delivery charges

Delivery for a single tree starts at £9.95, it is calculated based on your postcode.

Fruit tree delivery to EuropeEU delivery
This variety is also available for delivery to Europe. Contact us for details.

Growing and Training

Make sure you pick the crop just before it becomes ripe - which will be late August or early September in the UK.

Williams is generally easy to grow but can be susceptible to scab in wetter areas.

Cropping is usually reliable even in less than ideal conditions, and Williams is a good choice for pear enthusiasts in the north of the UK.

History

UK, 18th century. This pear is known both as Williams and Bartlett.

The fascinating origins of this pear were recorded by the Victorian fruit enthusiast Robert Hogg. He credited its discovery to either a Mr Wheeler or a Mr Stair, both schoolmasters in the town of Aldermaston, Berkshire, England some time before 1770. It was subsequently propagated by a nurseryman, Mr Williams of Turnham Green - who named it the Williams pear (perhaps to cut through the confusion surrounding its origins).

In 1799 trees were sent to the United States - a good demonstration of the close ties that already existed between England and the newly-independent United States. The imported Williams pear trees were planted in an orchard near Boston and came to the attention of a local nurseryman, Mr Bartlett, who played an important role in popularising the variety in the USA. It appears the original variety name was uncertain by this stage, so Bartlett (nicely repeating the decision of his English counterpart) decided to give it his own name.

In this way the new variety became known as Bartlett in North America and Williams in the UK and Europe.

Hogg suggests that the Bartlett pear was well suited to the climate of its new home, and was soon regarded as "the finest pear of its season". It became a major commercial variety in the USA.


Williams characteristics

Growing

  • Gardening skillAverage
  • Self-fertilityPartially self-fertile
  • Flowering group3
  • Pollinating othersAverage
  • Fruit bearingSpur-bearer
  • Climate suitabilityTemperate climatesWarm climates

Using

  • Picking seasonEarly
  • CroppingGood
  • Keeping (of fruit)1 week
  • Food usesEating fresh

Problems

  • Disease resistancePoor
  • Scab (Apple and Pear)Some susceptibility
  • Powdery mildewVery resistant
  • Fire blightVery susceptible
  • Woolly aphidSome susceptibility

Identification

  • Country of originUnited Kingdom
  • Period of origin1750 - 1799
  • Fruit colourGreen - light
  • Flesh colourCream
  • AwardsRHS AGM (former)

British-grown trees Trees grown in the UK.

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
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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. Find out more.

This variety description was researched and written by Orange Pippin staff. Last checked: 2024.