Pear, Flemmish Beauty

Pyrus communis 'Flemish Beauty', a historic European pear variety dating back to the early 1800s, demonstrates exceptional cold hardiness extending to Zone 3, making it one of the most reliable pear options for North Dakota's challenging climate. This vigorous tree produces abundantly once established, yielding impressive harvests of large, rounded fruits that typically reach 3-4 inches in diameter with a pleasingly uniform size and classic rounded pear shape. The attractive fruits develop a warm yellow base color overlaid with a distinctive reddish blush on the sun-exposed side, often accompanied by a fine russeting that enhances both their appearance and flavor complexity. Flemish Beauty pears reach harvest maturity from late September into early October, when they should be picked while still firm and ripened off the tree for optimal quality. When properly ripened, the creamy white flesh offers a perfect textural balance – substantial yet meltingly tender, with abundant sweet juice and a rich, aromatic flavor profile accented by subtle hints of vanilla and spice. The fruits excel for fresh eating, developing their best flavor when allowed to fully ripen at room temperature until the flesh yields slightly to gentle pressure at the stem end. Their firm texture also makes them exceptional for drying, creating flavorful dried pear slices that maintain sweetness without added sugar. While this variety can bear some fruit on its own, production is significantly enhanced when planted near compatible pollinizers with overlapping bloom times, with Bosc being an ideal companion in North Dakota landscapes. Flemish Beauty demonstrates remarkable resistance to fire blight compared to many European pears, though fruit should be harvested promptly when mature as they can become overripe quickly if left on the tree. The combination of exceptional cold hardiness, abundant production, and outstanding flavor makes Flemish Beauty a treasured variety for northern fruit enthusiasts seeking reliable pear harvests in challenging climates.