Several species of trees belonging to the genus Pyrus and the sweet fruits they typically bear are known as pears. Pear trees are native to Europe and Asia, but are cultivated in temperate regions around the world. The trees may grow to about 50 feet in height and produce numerous small, attractive flowers that are most often white, but may also be pink or yellow hued. Some varieties of the tree, especially those that are nonfruiting, are often utilized as ornamentals. More commonly, however, the trees are grown specifically for fruit production, which generally requires four to seven years to begin occurring at a desirable level. View a smaller version of this digital image. |