Our Variety Assessment

Its strengths, growing requirements and the conditions in which it performs best.

Williams remains a benchmark summer pear, valued for its melting texture, abundant juice and distinctive muscat aroma. It is excellent for fresh eating, preserving and distilling. We recommend a sunny, sheltered position, particularly in northern Europe, to obtain the best flavour. The fruit is delicate, ripens quickly after picking and should be eaten or processed without delay.

Williams

Price range: 26,50 € through 59,75 €

Williams is a classic English pear, also known as Bartlett, with a good flavour and quite easy to grow.

Choose your tree form

1 year old grafted tree – approx. 1–2 m

Half-standard – 1 to 1.5 m stem

Low-stem tree – approx. 60 cm stem

Standard tree – 1.8 m stem and over

Pear rootstock options

Farold 87 - approx 4.5m mature height

Kirchensaller – approx. 6 m mature height

Pyrodwarf – approx. 4 m mature height

Quince BA29 – approx. 3 m mature height

Quince BA29 with Comice interstem – approx. 3 m mature height

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Tree size guide

Tree Establishment Guarantee — We support you if your tree fails to establish. View the conditions

SKU: 4401 Categories: Dessert pear trees, Pear trees

Description

One of the oldest English dessert pears, Williams was discovered in the late 18th century and quickly became popular. In England and Europe it is known as Williams or sometimes Williams Bon Chretien, after the nurseryman who first propagated it, whereas in North America it is usually known as Bartlett.

Williams is a good early-season pear variety, with a pleasant sweet flavour and fairly easy to grow.

Variety characteristics

Variety origin

Old English variety discovered at Aldermaston, Berkshire, around 1770, then distributed by Richard Williams in the early 19th century.

Origin

Period of origin

USDA zone

Flowering

Eating / keeping period

Use

Sweetness / acidity

Disease resistance

Self-fertility

Partially self-fertile

Pollinator value

Excellent pollinizer

Ploidy

Diploid

Origin and identity

Parentage

Chance seedling, exact parents unknown

Synonyms

Bon-Chrétien Williams, Bartlett, Williams Bon Chrétien, William’s

Growth and adaptation

Vigour and habit

Moderate to medium vigour, suited to low-trained and espalier forms

Quince compatibility

Poor compatibility with quince rootstock; use an interstem or a Pyrus-type rootstock unless using a compatible clone.

Disease behaviour

Scab

Moderately susceptible to susceptible on leaves and fruits

Pollination

Compatible pollinating varieties

For reliable fruit set, plant at least one variety with a compatible flowering period nearby. Flowering period: 3 - mid season.

Red Williams View this variety

Beurré Durondeau View this variety

Trapezitsa View this variety

Conference View this variety

Cornelie View this variety

Comtesse de Paris View this variety

Additional variety information for Williams is provided in partnership with Orange Pippin.

Williams

Variety characteristics

Origin and identity

Growth and adaptation

Disease behaviour

Compatible pollinating varieties

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