Pyrus communis ‘Bonne Louise’

Description

Quick Facts
– Botanical Name: Pyrus communis ‘Bonne Louise’ (also sold as ‘Bonne Louise d’Avranches’)
– Common Name: Bonne Louise Pear
– Plant Type: Deciduous fruit tree
– Mature Height: Approx. 3-4m on a semi-dwarfing rootstock (varies with rootstock)
– Mature Spread: Approx. 2.5-3.5m
– Growth Rate: Moderate
– Flowering Period: April
– Flower Colour: White blossom
– Foliage Colour: Glossy mid-green, turning yellow and orange in autumn
– Fruit: Medium to large dessert pear, yellow-green with a soft red flush; sweet, juicy and smooth
– Harvest Period: Late September to October
– Pollination: Pollination group C; best with another pear in the same or a neighbouring group nearby
– Hardiness: RHS H6 (fully hardy)
– Soil Requirements: Moist, well-drained, fertile soil
– Aspect: Full sun, sheltered from cold winds
– Maintenance: Moderate: annual winter pruning

Description
‘Bonne Louise’ is a classic French dessert pear, grown for its sweet, juicy, buttery fruit. The pears are yellow-green with a soft red blush and are at their best eaten fresh from the tree.

In April the branches are covered in white blossom, which is a good early nectar source for bees. The glossy leaves turn yellow and orange in autumn. It makes a well-balanced tree for a kitchen garden, orchard or lawn.

Sweet, juicy and reliable, ‘Bonne Louise’ is a rewarding pear for the home grower.

Caragh Garden Notebook

Planting:
Plant in autumn or early spring in moist, well-drained soil with well-rotted compost or manure worked in. Choose a sunny, sheltered spot away from frost pockets, as pear blossom opens early and can be caught by late frosts. Plant at the same depth as the pot, stake securely, firm in gently, water in well and mulch.

Watering:
Water regularly through the first two growing seasons, especially in dry spells. Established trees benefit from a good soak during dry weather in summer, which helps the fruit swell. Container trees need more frequent watering.

Feeding:
Apply a balanced fruit tree fertiliser in early spring. A mulch of well-rotted compost in autumn keeps the soil fertile. Avoid too much nitrogen, which gives leafy growth at the expense of fruit.

Seasonal Care & Tidy-Up:
Prune in winter while the tree is dormant. Remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, and keep the centre open so light and air reach the fruit. Thin heavy crops in early summer for larger, better-flavoured pears. Pick when the fruit lifts off easily with a gentle twist, and ripen indoors for a few days for the best flavour.

Pollination:
‘Bonne Louise’ sets a better crop with another pear tree flowering at the same time nearby. Ask our team  and we can suggest a good partner.

Pests & Problems:
Generally manageable. Watch for pear scab, pear midge, codling moth and fireblight. Good pruning, open airy branches and removing infected material promptly keep most problems down.

Design Notes:
A good choice for kitchen gardens, small orchards and family gardens. The spring blossom and autumn leaf colour make it ornamental as well as productive. Underplant with spring bulbs, herbs or low perennials.

Propagation:
Fruit trees are grafted onto rootstock, so named varieties need nursery-grown stock to be true to type.