Comice Pear Tree produces the luxurious dessert pear often reserved for holiday gift boxes and elegant cheese boards. Its round, short-necked fruit ripens greenish yellow, sometimes with a warm red blush, and develops exceptionally juicy flesh with a fine, creamy texture. The flavor is intensely sweet and aromatic, rich without losing the delicate perfume that makes a ripe pear special. Comice is best enjoyed fresh, where its melting texture can take center stage, but it also pairs beautifully with soft cheeses, nuts, and simple desserts. White spring blossoms add classic orchard beauty before the premium fruit begins to form. For gardeners who value eating quality above uniformity or shipping durability, Comice offers a memorable harvest—the kind of pear that turns a backyard tree into the source of a genuinely indulgent seasonal treat. Comice was developed by the Comice Horticole horticultural society in Angers, France, whose name the pear still carries.
Comice grows semi-dwarf on OHxF333 rootstock and is suited to USDA zones 5–9, with a confirmed 600-hour chill requirement., harvest generally spans mid-September through early October. Plant in full sun and well-drained soil, thin fruit clusters, and pick mature pears while firm so they can ripen to their creamy best indoors.
Comice is self-fruitful and can bear alone, but another compatible European pear may improve set. The confirmed companion is Bartlett; Bosc is another orchard option.
Comice Pear Tree Details
Fruit: Round, short-necked pears with greenish-yellow skin and possible red blush
Flavor and texture: Exceptionally sweet, aromatic, juicy, fine, and creamy
Best uses: Fresh eating, cheese boards, fruit plates, and simple desserts
Harvest: Mid-September to early October
USDA zones: 5–9
Chill hours: 600
Tree size: Semi-dwarf on OHxF333 rootstock
Rootstock: OHxF333
Pollination: Self-fruitful; another compatible pear may improve set
Recommended companions: Bartlett or Bosc
Special care: Harvest firm and finish ripening indoors for melting texture
Something Special: Comice was developed by the Comice Horticole horticultural society in Angers, France, whose name the pear still carries.
