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Simple bare root fruit trees and ornamental trees

Fondante d'Automne

Pyrus communis
Fondante d'Automne pears
Fondante d'Automne is listed in the RHS Plants for Pollinators

Fondante d'Automne is an old-fashioned 19th century French pear variety which has been grown in England since Victorian times. Its name describes it well - this is a late-season pear with a sugary sweet flavour. The fruits are small to medium in size, usually covered with a light russet.

For best results, as with most pears, pick the fruits before they are fully ripe on the tree and ripen in a fruit bowl.

Fondante d'Automne pear trees for sale

  • RF11-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
  • RF21-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

Growing and Training

Unlike many pears of French origin, Fondante d'Automne fruits reliably in the English climate, and is not susceptible to the usual pear diseases.


Recommended pollinators for Fondante d'Automne pear trees

Fondante d'Automne is not self-fertile, so you will need another different but compatible variety planted nearby in order to produce fruit. The following varieties are good pollinators for Fondante d'Automne. If you are not sure about pollination requirements don't hesitate to ask us. More pollinators >

  • Pollinator Conference
    Conference
    Conference is a popular and reliable English pear, well-suited to the UK climate.
  • Pollinator Concorde
    Concorde
    A marriage of Conference and Comice - Concorde is easy to grow, heavy crops, excellent flavour.
  • Pollinator Williams
    Williams
    Williams is a classic English pear, also known as Bartlett, with good flavour and quite easy to grow.
  • Pollinator Sensation
    Sensation
    A red-coloured sport of the popular Williams pear, with a similar good flavour.
  • Pollinator Invincible
    Invincible
    Invincible is a high quality pear which can also cope with difficult conditions.
  • Pollinator Beth
    Beth
    An easy and reliable early-season pear, with a very good melting flavour.
  • Pollinator Obelisk
    Obelisk
    A useful dwarf pear tree for small gardens, it grows with a tidy upright habit and is self-fertile.
  • Pollinator Santa Claus
    Santa Claus
    As the name suggests, Santa Claus is a late ripening dessert pear which keeps until Christmas.

History

Fondante d'Automne was raised in the 1820s, either by Mr Fievee of Maubeuge in northern France or Major Esperen of Malines in Belgium. It is usually known as Belle Lucrative in the USA and Australia. In Europe it is sometimes known as Seigneur Esperen.


Fondante d'Automne characteristics

  • Gardening skillAverage
  • Self-fertile?Not self-fertile
  • Pollinating othersAverage
  • Pick seasonLate
  • Picking periodmid-September
  • Keeping2-3 weeks
  • Food usesEating fresh
  • Country of originBelgiumFrance
  • Period of origin1800 - 1849
  • Fruit colourGoldRussetYellow

You might also like these varieties

  • See also Beth
    Beth
    An easy and reliable early-season pear, with a very good melting flavour.
  • See also Concorde
    Concorde
    A marriage of Conference and Comice - Concorde is easy to grow, heavy crops, excellent flavour.
  • See also Conference
    Conference
    Conference is a popular and reliable English pear, well-suited to the UK climate.
  • See also Williams
    Williams
    Williams 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.


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