Alexandrine Douillard

‘Alexandrine Douillard’ is an old French variety raised in Nantes in the mid-19th century by the architect Constant Douillard, who named it after his wife.

The medium to large pear is elongated and pear-shaped, often irregular or slightly ribbed. Its thin, smooth skin turns yellow to bronze yellow when ripe, with small russet dots and sometimes an attractive salmon-pink blush on the side exposed to the sun.

The white flesh is fine and fairly firm when picked, becoming tender and melting as it ripens. It is juicy, exceptionally sweet and pleasantly aromatic, with a mild, buttery flavour. The fruit should be eaten at the correct stage of ripeness, as the flesh may become mealy when overripe.

Harvest generally takes place during the second half of September. The pears continue to ripen after picking and can be stored for around three months under suitable conditions, allowing them to be eaten until November or December.

The tree is vigorous, heavily branched, fertile and quick to begin cropping. Its abundant crops may require thinning to preserve fruit size and quality. The variety generally has good compatibility with quince, although this may be less reliable in very hot, dry climates. Susceptible to scab and fire blight, it prefers an open, well-ventilated position and should be planted with a compatible pollinating variety.