Autumn 2024 planting seasonPre-order now for EU delivery December 2024 - March 2025

Poire de Livre pear trees

Pyrus communis
Poire de Livre
Poire de Livre is listed in the RHS Plants for Pollinators
  • Picking season: Very late
  • Self-fertility: Not self-fertile
  • Flowering group: 6

Poire de Livre is an ancient culinary pear from northern France. It is thought to have been in use since the early 17th century, and is so-named because of of its large fruits, which can weigh as much as one "livre" (pound in English).

The pears are picked in mid-October and have a dense hard flesh which is not palatable for eating fresh. They are normally peeled and then slowly poached or stewed. The pears can also be kept for several months in a fridge.

Poire de Livre is a good choice if you are looking for pears that can be used for traditional cookery.

Bio / Organic  fruit trees

Poire de Livre organic pear trees for sale

  • 11 yeartree on PyroDwarf rootstock25.00€
    Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years) Bare-root
  • 21 yeartree on Kirchensaller rootstock24.25€
    Very large tree (5m-6m+ after 10 years) Bare-root
  • 3Half-standard (2 years)tree on PyroDwarf rootstock34.00€
    Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years) Bare-root
    Collection only - contact us
EU delivery countries
  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Croatia
  • Czech Republic
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • France
  • Germany
  • Ireland
  • Italy
  • Latvia
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg
  • Netherlands
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Slovakia
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
Delivery chargesClick here to view estimated delivery charges. Our 2-year trees and some pot-grown trees are too big or unsuitable for mail-order and are only available for collection direct from the nursery. Please contact us if you wish to order.

Growing and Training

Poire de Livre flowers quite late in the pear blossom season, and it is likely the blossom is not compatible with other pears. The tree is reliable, generally free of disease, and bears regularly.


Poire de Livre characteristics

  • Gardening skillAverage
  • Self-fertilityNot self-fertile
  • Flowering group6
  • Disease resistanceGood
  • Picking seasonVery late
  • Season of use3 months or more
  • Food usesCulinaryTraditional cooker
  • Country of originFrance
  • Period of origin1600 - 1649
  • Flesh colourWhite
  • Fruit colourGreen - lightRussetYellow / Orange

Similar varieties

  • See also Hendre Huffcap
    Hendre Huffcap
    A well-known English perry pear variety, and a reliable cropper. It makes a light, low-tannin perry.
  • See also Louise Bonne
    Louise Bonne
    Louise Bonne is a pretty red-flushed French pear variety with sweet melting flesh.
  • See also Saint Mathieu
    Saint Mathieu
    Saint Mathieu is a traditional Franco-Belgian cooking pear.
  • See also Winnals Longdon
    Winnals Longdon
    A traditional English perry pear variety, produces a low tannin perry.

More about pear trees

While you can gently cook dessert pears, their sweet soft flesh can become simply bland in the kitchen. If you want to really cook with pears you need to use dedicated culinary varieties. These typically have very hard dense flesh, with strong but not particularly palatable flavours when eaten raw. The application of heat - typically by baking, poaching, or stewing - transforms and brings out their flavours.


This variety description was researched and written by Orange Pippin staff. Last checked: 2024.