The 'Potomac' is a hybrid European pear in the rose family (Rosaceae), introduced in 1993 from the USDA and The Ohio State University. Parentage is 'Moonglow' x 'Anjou'. The tree is highly resistant to fire blight and is not self-fertile, so it will need to be planted with another variety. 'Potomac' can be found grafted to dwarf stock (8 to 14 feet tall), semi-dwarf stock (15 to 20 feet tall) or standard stock (15 to 30 feet tall). It requires 600 chill hours and does best in full sun and well-drained, moist, fertile soil. Here is an NC State guide to caring for fruit trees, including dealing with insects and diseases. The fragrant white flowers appear in spring and are followed by edible fruits in August to September. The pear has a light green skin and buttery sweet flesh. It is considered one of the best fire blight-resistant varieties. Pears are grown commercially or in the home edible garden. 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 nichePyrus communis 'Hosui'Pyrus communis 'Kosui'Pyrus communis 'Shin Li'
Full plant profile
Growing Conditions
Plant type
Edible; Tree
Life cycle
Woody
USDA zones
5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
12-24 feet; 24-60 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in. | Width: 8 ft. 0 in. - 17 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
Oblong; Ovate
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
1 to 4 inch long, green, oval, alternate leaves with serrated edges—yellow fall color.
Fall color
Gold/Yellow
Flower form
Corymb
Flower shape
Cup
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
White flowers with all parts in fives in clusters in the spring.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Green
Fruit type
Pome
Fruit value
Edible
Fruit size
> 3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Fruit detail
The pear has a light green skin and buttery sweet flesh. Matures August to September
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
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 fruits.
Attracts
Bees; Butterflies; Small Mammals; Songbirds
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Fruit
Harvest time
Fall
Fruit type
Pome
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Lawn; Meadow
Landscape theme
Edible Garden
Design feature
Flowering Tree
Garden tags
#edible garden #flowering tree #frequent insect problems #frequent disease problems #deciduous tree #edible fruit #vhfn #pears #fruit tree #high maintenance
Problems & Resistance
Insect problems
North Carolina Production Guide for Smaller Orchard Plantings