| Description |
Pears are fruiting trees or shrubs in the Pyrus genus, in the family Rosaceae. There are approximately 3000 varieties worldwide, and they are commonly divided into two major groups: European and Asian. European Pears are wider at the bottom and taper at the top. Asian Pears are shaped more like apples, and have a different texture and flavor. Most pear species are deciduous, but some in southeast Asia are evergreen. Pears are generally cold-hardy, surviving winter temperatures between -25 to -40°C. In the spring, they produce white (and sometimes, yellow or pink) flowers with 5 petals. Like apples, pears are propagated by grafting the selected variety onto a rootstock. More growing information is available in individual pear species entries.
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