Doyenne du Comice
Pyrus communis Comice is widely considered to have the best flavour of any pear. It has both the characteristic "melting" flesh of the highest quality pear varieties, along with a sweet richness and delicacy which others can't quite attain.
Although originating from France it was well-known in England by the late 19th century and the Victorian author Robert Hogg records several letters from fellow enthusiasts praising its "surpassing flavour".
Doyenne du Comice pear trees for sale
RF11-year bare-root
tree
on Quince Eline rootstock£39.75
Mature height: 2m-3.5m after 10 years
Available next season
RF22-year bare-root
tree
on Quince Eline rootstock£47.95
Mature height: 2m-3.5m after 10 years
Can be grown on as a dwarf bush-trained fruit tree.
Available next season
RF31-year bare-root
tree
on Quince A rootstock£38.25
Mature height: 2m-3.5m after 10 years
Can be trained on as a large bush-trained or half-standard tree, or a large fan or espalier.
Available next season
RF42-year bare-root
tree
on Quince A rootstock£47.50
Mature height: 2m-3.5m after 10 years
Can be grown on as a large bush-trained fruit tree.
Available next season
RF51-year bare-root
tree
on Pyrodwarf rootstock£40.50
Mature height: 3m-5m after 10 years
Can be trained on as a large pear tree, or half-standard pear tree.
Available next season
RF62-year bare-root
tree
on Pyrodwarf rootstock£49.00
Mature height: 3m-5m after 10 years
Can be trained on as a large pear tree, or half-standard pear tree.
Available next season
Growing and Training
As befits such a refined pear, Doyenne du Comice needs to be grown in a sheltered south-facing situation, and it does best in the drier climate of the south or east side of the UK. Espalier or fan-training against a south-facing wall is the ideal.
The other important consideration with Comice is that it needs a reliable pollination partner nearby, as the shape of its flowers makes it difficult for successful pollination to occur. Conference is a good choice as it is a naturally good pollinator and flowers just 3-4 days ahead of Comice, as are Gorham or Williams or Beth - the latter works well with Doyenne du Comice because they have separate fruiting seasons.
The fruit size is relatively large by pear standards - provided you thin the fruitlets in late spring.
As with all pears, it is important to get the time of picking right. Unlike apples, which are usually best if left to ripen on the tree, pears should be picked under-ripe and then ripened indoors (or in a fridge). In the UK Doyenne du Comice is generally ready to pick in early to mid October.
Inspite of its somewhat fussy requirements, Comice is quite resistant to fireblight, one of the main diseases of pears.
Recommended pollinators for Doyenne du Comice pear trees
Doyenne du Comice is not self-fertile and is also a poor pollinator of other varieties. Ideally you need two other different but compatible varieties planted nearby in order to produce fruit, or one compatible self-fertile variety.
The following varieties are good pollinators for Doyenne du Comice.
If you are not sure about pollination requirements don't hesitate to ask us.
More pollinators >
BethAn easy and reliable early-season pear, with a very good melting flavour.
Beurre SuperfinA traditional French 19th century pear, widely considered one of the best for flavour.
ConferenceConference is a popular and reliable English pear, well-suited to the UK climate.
GinA rare English perry pear variety with good disease resistance and medium acid and tannins.
GorhamA reliable early 20th century American pear, with a sweet creamy flesh.
ObeliskA useful dwarf pear tree for small gardens, it grows with a tidy upright habit and is self-fertile.
History
Raised in the garden of the Comice Horticole, in the town of Angers in the Loire valley, France, during the mid-19th century.
Doyenne du Comice characteristics
- Gardening skillExperienced
- Fruit persistenceNormal ripening
- Self-fertile?Not self-fertile
- Pollinating othersPoor
- Pick seasonLate
- Picking periodmid-October
- Keeping2-3 weeks
- Food usesEating fresh
- Country of originFrance
- Period of origin1850 - 1899
- Fruit colourGreen - light
You might also like these varieties
BethAn easy and reliable early-season pear, with a very good melting flavour.
ConcordeA marriage of Conference and Comice - Concorde is easy to grow, heavy crops, excellent flavour.
ConferenceConference is a popular and reliable English pear, well-suited to the UK climate.
WilliamsWilliams is a classic English pear, also known as Bartlett, with good flavour and quite easy to grow.
More about pear trees
The modern dessert pear with its refined flavours and melting flesh evolved in the 19th century, and with some exceptions almost all the pears we know today were developed at that time.
Unlike apples, which often helpfully come away in the hand when they are ripe, if you let pears ripen on the tree you will find they are overripe inside. Instead pears need to be harvested before they are ripe - then ripened in a fruit bowl. This just takes practice, and after a few seasons you will soon know the tell-tale little signs that your pears are ready for picking.
