Pear
Can I Grow Bartlett?
Bartlett is the classic American pear — aromatic, buttery, and perfect for fresh eating or canning. It's the pear most people picture when they think 'pear.'
Growing Requirements
Chill Hours
800
Hardiness Zones
5-6-7-8
Harvest
August to September
Results
Enter your zip code to see if Bartlett will thrive in your area.
About Bartlett
Bartlett is the classic American pear — aromatic, buttery, and perfect for fresh eating or canning. It's the pear most people picture when they think 'pear.'
Bartlett requires 800 chill hours — the number of hours between 32°F and 45°F during winter dormancy. Without enough chill, the tree may fail to flower properly or produce poor fruit.
Common Challenges
Highly susceptible to fire blight (can kill entire trees); needs a pollinator despite some self-fertility.
Common Misconception
Can I grow Bartlett in Zone 9 or warmer?
No. While Bartlett is listed for zones 5-8, it requires 800 chill hours to produce fruit. Warm zones like 9+ typically receive only 200-400 chill hours. The tree may survive but will not fruit reliably. Consider low-chill alternatives like Anna apple (200h) or Tropic Snow peach (200h) instead.
Other Pear Varieties
Chill hour data from ERA5 reanalysis (Copernicus/ECMWF). Variety information compiled from university extension services.