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

Saint Mathieu pear trees

Pyrus communis
Saint Mathieu is listed in the RHS Plants for Pollinators
  • Picking season: Late
  • Self-fertility: Not self-fertile
  • Flowering group: 4

Saint Mathieu is a traditional cooking pear, originating from the border areas of northern France and Belgium.

The pears are not very palatable for eating fresh because the flesh is quite hard and tannic. However they come into their own when baked or stewed.

Bio / Organic  fruit trees

Saint Mathieu 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

Saint Mathieu trees are naturally vigorous, and are traditionally grown on standard seedling rootstocks. Old trees get very tall and impressive.


Saint Mathieu characteristics

  • Gardening skillAverage
  • Self-fertilityNot self-fertile
  • Flowering group4
  • Disease resistanceGood
  • Picking seasonLate
  • Season of use2-3 weeks
  • Food usesCulinaryTraditional cooker
  • Country of originBelgiumFrance
  • Period of origin1800 - 1849
  • Flesh colourWhite
  • Fruit colourGreen - lightRusset

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 Poire de Livre
    Poire de Livre
    Poire de Livre is an ancient culinary pear from the north of France.
  • 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.