‘Kosui’ is a hybrid Asian pear in the rose family (Rosaceae). The pear was cultivated in Japan and released in 1959. It is a cross between 'Kikusui' and 'Wasekozo'. Kosui means 'good water' in Japanese. The tree can be found grafted to dwarf and semi-dwarf root stock, keeping the height 10 to 12 feet tall rather than 15 to 20 feet tall on standard root stock. It requires 400 to 450 chill hours and another Asian pear variety for pollination. It has good fire blight resistance. Here is an NC State guide to caring for fruit trees, including pruning and dealing with insects and diseases. 'Kosui’ blooms in April with clusters of white flowers. The fruit has russet skin and creamy white, sweet and crisp flesh. They mature in late summer to early fall. The tree is a good choice for areas with warmer winter temperatures due to the low chill hours required. Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: Susceptible to anthracnose, canker, scab and powdery mildew. Insect visitors include pear psylla, coddling moth and borers. VIDEO Created by Laura Barth for "Vegetables, Herbs, Fruits, and Nuts," a plant identification course developed in partnership with Longwood Gardens. More information on Pyrus communis .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Fills a similar nicheMalus domestica CrimsonCrisp®Pyrus communis 'Blake' s Pride'Pyrus communis 'Hosui'
Full plant profile
Growing Conditions
Plant type
Edible; Tree
Life cycle
Woody
USDA zones
5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
12-24 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in. | Width: 8 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
High
Canopy layer
2 - Understory (15-40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect
Texture
Coarse
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Elliptical
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf feel
Glossy
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
1-4 inch long green, oval, alternate leaves with serrated edges. Red fall color.
Fall color
Red/Burgundy
Flower color
White
Flower value
Fragrant; Showy
Flower form
Corymb
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
White flowers with all parts in fives in clusters in the spring.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Brown/Copper; Gold/Yellow
Fruit type
Pome
Fruit value
Edible
Fruit size
> 3 inches long, > 3 inches wide
Fruit detail
The fruit has russet skin and creamy white, sweet and crisp flesh that matures in late summer to early fall.
Bark color
Light Gray
Bark detail
The bark is smooth and gray with lenticels becoming blocky or furrowed with age.
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Gray/Silver; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
Young twigs are glossy reddish-brown, often developing a scaly, grey-brown, and slightly furrowed bark as they mature. i produces numerous dwarf shoots on older wood, needed for fruiting.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Wildlife value
Pollinators are attracted to the flowers. Birds and mammals will eat the fruit.
Attracts
Bees; Butterflies; Small Mammals; Songbirds
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Fruit
Harvest time
Fall; Summer
Fruit type
Pome
Edibility
The fruit is good and edible
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Lawn; Meadow
Landscape theme
Edible Garden
Design feature
Flowering Tree
Garden tags
#edible garden #frequent insect problems #frequent disease problems #white flowers #deciduous tree #edible fruit #spring flowers #pears #fruit tree #high maintenance #th-taste #th-wildlife
Problems & Resistance
Insect problems
North Carolina Production Guide for Smaller Orchard Plantings