Pyrus pashia aka Himalayan Pear

Pyrus pashia, the Indian wild pear, belongs to the rose family. Its native range runs from Iran to south-central China and Indochina. It grows in Himalayan scrub and along woodland edges. Some wild stands reach 8,860 feet [2,700 metres] above sea level. People gather its fruit and wood from the wild. They also grow it for fruit and as an ornamental tree.

This deciduous tree forms a rounded crown and may bear spines. It can also send up suckers around its base. Garden trees reach 26–39 feet [8–12 metres] tall. The crown can spread beyond 26 feet [8 metres]. Full size may take 20–50 years. Oval, dark green leaves hang from long stalks. Young leaves often have woolly hairs, most marked beneath. Their autumn colour shifts to shades of red and brown.

White flowers open in close groups during mid-spring. Dark red anthers stand out against the petals. Bees and other insects pollinate the flowers. Small, round pears follow, with brown skin and pale spots. Each fruit can reach about one inch across. People eat them fresh, cooked, or dried. They often let the fruit soften after ripening, a process called bletting. Reports differ on sweetness, though fully ripe fruit can taste pleasant.

Give this pear full sun and deep, fertile soil. It needs moisture, but excess water must drain away. A sheltered site with near-neutral soil suits it best. Very acid ground and shallow chalk soils hinder growth. It also fares poorly with shade for over half the day. RHS rates it H6; PFAF lists USDA zones 4–8. It suits informal gardens, wildlife gardens, and sunny woodland edges. Growers raise it from autumn-sown seed or use grafting and budding.

Aphids, caterpillars, codling moth, and pear blister mite may attack it. Pear midge and pear-and-cherry slugworm can also cause damage. Diseases include fireblight, pear scab, rust, blossom wilt, and brown rot. Honey fungus is a less frequent risk. Growers use this species as rootstock for cultivated pears. Its hard wood serves for small tools, walking sticks, and fuel. The timber may split or warp as it dries. Traditional practice uses ripe fruit juice for diarrhoea. PFAF reports no known hazards for this species. Useful Tropical Plants notes that species-specific seed safety data are lacking.