Schweizer Hose

‘Schweizer Hose’, also known as ‘Culotte Suisse’, is a very old French variety remarkable for the striped colouring of its fruit and sometimes even its young shoots.

This variety is a variegated sport of ‘Verte Longue d’Automne’. The medium-sized fruit is pear-shaped and broad. Its green skin is marked with numerous longitudinal yellow stripes, sometimes tinged or edged with red. This unusual colouring recalls the striped trousers of the Pontifical Swiss Guard, from which the variety takes its name.

The white flesh is fine, exceptionally melting and abundantly juicy. Its flavour is mild, richly sweet and lightly aromatic, sometimes developing a delicate floral note when the tree is grown in warm soil with good exposure. In cold or damp soils, however, the fruit may be less aromatic.

Harvest generally takes place during the second half of September, before the fruit begins to fall, and may continue into early October in cooler regions. The pears ripen quickly after picking and should be monitored carefully, as their flesh can soften quite rapidly.

The tree has moderate to weak vigour but is highly fertile. It often bears fruit in small clusters and is suitable for pyramidal or trained forms. Grafting onto quince is possible, but growth generally remains weak; a pear seedling or another pear rootstock is preferable for producing a durable tree. Rare and particularly distinctive, ‘Schweizer Hose’ is primarily a collector’s variety, suitable for eating fresh, cooking and decorative use.