Louise Bonne of Jersey Pear Trees

• Variety: Louise Bonne of Jersey, a juicy, perfumed eating Pear
• Latin name: Pyrus communis 'Louise Bonne of Jersey'
• Use: Eating
• Sold as: Bareroot maiden, bush and half-standard, or a pot-grown half-standard in a 15 litre pot
• Rootstock: Quince A
• Mature size: About 3 to 4m
• Pollination: Group B. Needs a partner from group B or C, but not Williams
• Bearing: Tip bearer, so not for cordons or espaliers
• Picking: Late September, to eat in October and November
• Health: Some resistance to frost in the blossom. Prone to scab in warm, wet areas
• Position: Full sun, sheltered
• Wildlife: RHS Plants for Pollinators
• Hardiness: H6, hardy through the British winter
• Delivered: Bareroot, November to April. Pot-grown, all year when in stock. Collection from Castle Cary also available

Louise Bonne of Jersey is an old French eating Pear with juicy, smooth, pink-tinged flesh and a rich flavour, ready in October and November. It needs a partner from group B or C, and its blossom has some resistance to frost. It is on the RHS Plants for Pollinators list.

Louise Bonne of Jersey Pear Trees

A ripe Louise Bonne of Jersey pear is a chunky handful with a yellow-green skin, red blush on the sunny side and a very light coat of russet.
The pink tinged flesh is very juicy and is totally smooth, with no grittiness.
It has a bright, tangy sweetness with a faint touch of roses and grapes: delicious.

She is an upright tree. The flowers have some resistance to late spring frost, which is good for the North of England & Scotland.

Browse our range of pear trees, or all our fruit trees.

Delivery season: Bareroot plants are delivered from late autumn to spring, November to April. Pot grown plants, year round.

Pollination Partners:
These trees need a pollination partner to crop.
Louise Bonne of Jersey is in pollination group B.
This means that it'll cross-pollinate with trees in groups B & C (Except Williams bon Chretien).
Our guide to Pollinating Pear Trees has a full list of partners.

Growing Louise Bonne of Jersey Pears:
Rich soil is important: dig in plenty of good manure and compost before planting.
Soil drainage must be good.
The more sun your trees get the better your crops will be.

Diseases: Louise Bonne has some susceptibility to Scab, which tends to be a problem in warm, damp areas in the West.
With spraying when necessary, this won't be a problem.

History & Trivia

This French variety is from Normandy. Bred in the late 1700s, she is called Bonne Louise or Louise d'Avranches at home. The first trees brought to Britain, during the Victorian era, were grown on the island of Jersey, hence their English name.

She is a former RHS Award of Merit holder.

Pear Tree Delivery Shapes:

Most of our fruit trees are delivered in up to 3 shapes (maiden, bush, and half standard), and you can buy selected varieties as potted mini patio trees: scroll up to see what's in stock.

Maiden: Unbranched tree, the most basic starting size, which you can train into cordons, espaliers, or the forms below (apart from mini patio trees).
Bush: Freestanding tree with a short trunk about 60cm tall. It'll grow to about 3m. Ideal for small gardens.
Half-Standard: A freestanding form with a trunk about 120cm tall. It'll grow into a full sized, "normal" tree, about 4m. Ideal for orchards, easy to mow underneath.

Cordon: Louise Bonne is a tip bearer, so it does not suit cordons or espaliers.

Guide to Fruit Tree Sizing.

7.5 to 12 litres potted non-patio trees aren't meant to be kept in pots; they'll be fine for up to 12 months until planted in the ground. Keep well watered (but not soaked).

Planting Companions

For a partner, Invincible is in the same group B, and Beth and Beurre Hardy flower in group C. Do not rely on Williams: the two do not pollinate each other. Dust bareroot roots with Rootgrow as you plant.

Why Ashridge for Fruit Trees?

Field grown specifically for us and lifted fresh to order, your Louise Bonne is on Quince A rootstock, and maidens are pre-pruned before despatch. Bareroot trees are guaranteed for 12 months, and so is a potted tree delivered leafless between November and March. Ashridge has sold plants since 1949.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Louise Bonne of Jersey need a pollination partner?

Yes. It is in group B, and Invincible, Beth or Beurre Hardy will pollinate it. Williams will not.

How big does the tree grow?

On Quince A rootstock, a bush grows to about 3 metres and a half-standard to about 4 metres.

When are the Pears ready?

Pick them in late September. They ripen in October and November.

Can you grow it as a cordon or espalier?

No. It fruits at the tips of its shoots, which does not suit those forms. Grow it as a bush or half-standard.

Is it a good Pear for the north?

Its blossom has some resistance to late spring frost, which makes it a good choice for the north. Give it full sun and some shelter.

Does it get scab?

It can, mostly in warm, damp areas in the west. Spraying when needed keeps it in check.

When are the trees delivered?

Bareroot trees are delivered from November to April, while they are dormant. Pot-grown trees can be delivered and planted in any month when you find them in stock.