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Fondante d'Automne pear trees

(Belle Lucrative, Seigneur Esperen)

Pyrus communis
Fondante d'Automne pears
Fondante d'Automne is listed in the RHS Plants for Pollinators
  • Picking season: Late
  • Self-fertility: Not self-fertile
  • Flowering group: 4

Fondante d'Automne is a traditional French late-season pear variety with a sugary sweet flavour, very typical of the dessert pears which became fashionable in Europe in the 1830s. It soon became popular in England and the Americas - it is described by the English fruit enthusiast Robert Hogg, writing in the 1880s as "a delicious autumn pear". 

The fruits are of medium size, usually covered with a light russet, and they have a fine-grained buttery flesh. 

For best results, as with most pears, pick the fruits before they are fully ripe on the tree and ripen in a fruit bowl.

Bio / Organic  fruit trees

Fondante d'Automne organic pear trees for sale

  • 1 yeartree on BA29 rootstock28.00€
    Medium tree (2m-3.5m after 10 years) Bare-root
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.

Growing and Training

Although never really a commercial variety, Fondante d'Automne is widely grown throughout Europe, North America, and Australia and is suitable for both warm climates and cool temperate climates. It seems relatively untroubled by the usual pear diseases.


History

Fondante d'Automne was raised in the 1820s, either by Mr Fievee of Maubeuge in northern France or Major Esperen of Malines in Belgium. It is usually known as Belle Lucrative in the USA and Australia. In Europe it is sometimes known as Seigneur Esperen.


Fondante d'Automne characteristics

  • What level of gardening skill is needed to grow Fondante d'Automne?Average
  • Is Fondante d'Automne self-fertile?Not self-fertile
  • What flowering group is Fondante d'Automne?4
  • Picking periodmid-September
  • What season do you pick Fondante d'Automne?Late
  • How long can you keep Fondante d'Automne in a fridge?2-3 weeks
  • Food usesEating fresh
  • Summer average maximum temperaturesWarm (25-30C / 76-85F)
  • Where does Fondante d'Automne originate from?BelgiumFrance
  • When was Fondante d'Automne first introduced?1800 - 1849
  • Flesh colourWhite
  • Fruit colourGoldRussetYellow

You might also like these varieties

  • See also Clapp's Favorite
    Clapp's Favorite
    An attractive red-flushed early-season pear from the USA.
  • See also Conference
    Conference
    Conference is a popular and reliable English pear, well-suited to temperate climates in north-west Europe.
  • See also Cornelie
    Cornelie
    Cornelie is a traditional sweet buttery French dessert pear.
  • See also Deveci
    Deveci
    Deveci is a large late-season eating pear, originating from Turkey.

This variety description was produced by Orange Pippin staff from first-hand research. Last checked: 19-Aug-2024.

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