Sensation Pear

Sensation Pear (Pyrus communis 'Sensation') is a red skinned Williams pear on a semi dwarf frame, reaching about 3.5m tall and 2.5m wide. That is small enough for a suburban backyard or a large pot, and it still carries a proper crop of sweet buttery fruit. White blossom in spring and warm autumn colour make it worth the space before the first pear is picked.

Why you'll love it

• A full sized pear on a small tree. At 3.5m by 2.5m it fits where a standard pear never would, and picking is done from the ground or a step ladder.
• Williams flavour with red skin. Sensation is a sport of Williams, so the fruit has the same sweet melting flesh under a deep red blush.
• Three seasons of interest. Spring blossom, summer fruit, then autumn colour before the tree goes bare.
• It grows well in a pot. A half barrel or 500mm container holds one for years and keeps the tree naturally smaller again.

Where it works best

Small gardens and backyards. One tree tucks into the corner of a modest block. Allow about 3m of clear space so no side of the canopy sits in shade.

Pots and courtyards. Use a container at least 500mm wide with real drainage. Potted pears crop well but need steady watering, because a dry spell at fruit set will drop the crop.

Growing Sensation Pear in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun, at least six hours a day, with shelter from hot dry wind at flowering. Pears need winter chill, so this is a tree for cool temperate, warm temperate and Mediterranean gardens. In subtropical and tropical areas it crops lightly, and there are better fruit choices.

Pollination. This is the detail most people miss. Sensation sets a much heavier crop with a compatible pear flowering nearby, such as Beurre Bosc. On its own you will still get fruit, just not a full crop.

Soil. Deep, well drained loam with compost worked through the bed. Pears resent waterlogged roots, so mound the planting position on clay and keep 75mm of mulch clear of the trunk.

Water and feed. Water deeply once or twice a week through spring and summer, and never let it dry out while the fruit is sizing. Feed a complete fruit tree fertiliser in late winter and again after harvest.

Pruning. Prune in winter while the tree is bare. Hold an open vase shape, take out crossing and inward wood, and leave the short stubby spurs alone, since that is where next season's pears form.

What to expect when it arrives

This pear is grown in one size, a 45L pot. That is an advanced tree with its framework already formed rather than a bare rooted whip, so it goes in with a full root system and can be planted in any season. Expect a light crop within two years and a useful one from year three.

Deciduous trees ship in leaf or bare depending on the season, and some leaf drop in transit is normal. Delivered Australia wide, delivery from $29.95. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost, and every tree carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Plan the whole harvest with our guide to fruit trees for every season.
• Find a pollinating partner in the fruit tree collection.
• Browse the rest of our edible plants.
• Compare autumn performers among deciduous trees.

Common questions

Do I need a second pear tree?

For a reliable crop, yes. Plant a compatible variety such as Beurre Bosc within about 15m so bees can move between them.

Can I keep it smaller than 3.5m?

Yes. Winter pruning holds it at 2.5m to 3m without affecting the crop, and growing it in a pot does much the same.

When are the pears ready to pick?

Williams types are picked firm in late summer to early autumn, when the fruit lifts with a gentle tilt. Ripen them indoors for a week, because pears left to soften on the tree go gritty at the core.