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Williams

Williams pears
Williams is listed in the RHS Plants for Pollinators
  • Self-fertility: Partially self-fertile
  • Flowering group: 3
  • Awards: RHS AGM (former) 1993

Bartlett is one of the oldest English dessert pears, it was discovered in the late 18th century and quickly became popular. In England and Europe it is known as Williams or sometimes Williams Bon Chretien, after the nurseryman who first propagated it.

Shortly after its discovery it was taken to the United States where it quickly established itself as an important commercial variety, a role it has retained to this day. In North America it is always known as the Bartlett pear, after the Boston nurseryman who promoted it.

If you buy tinned pears, they are very likely to be this variety. Don't let this put you off though - Williams is a good early-season pear variety for the gardener too, with a very good flavour and fairly easy to grow.

Trained Williams pear trees for sale

Sorry we have not produced any trees of this variety this season.

    Growing and Training

    Make sure you pick the crop just before it becomes ripe - which will be late August or early September in the UK.

    Williams is generally easy to grow but can be susceptible to scab in wetter areas. Croping is usually reliable.


    Williams characteristics

    • Self-fertilityPartially self-fertile
    • Flowering group3
    • Pollinating othersAverage
    • AwardsRHS AGM (former) - 1993
    • Picking period (southern UK)early September
    • CroppingGood
    • Keeping1 week
    • Food usesEating fresh
    • Disease resistancePoor
    • ScabSome susceptibility
    • MildewVery resistant
    • Country of originUnited Kingdom
    • Period of origin1750 - 1799
    • Fruit colourGreen - light