Castle Howard Arboretum Trust - Furniture Makers Trees

Botanical name: Pyrus communis

Family: Rosaceae

Common Name: Common Pear

Habitat and Distribution:

Probably of hybrid origin, arising from cultivated varieties mingling with wild species. Found wild in most of Europe in open woodland, woodland margins and hedgerows. Many cultivated varieties (over 1000 cultivars are known) are found in orchards and gardens.

Description:

A deciduous tree to 15 metres (50 ft) with taper-pointed dark green leaves. Clusters of white flowers 2.5-3.7 cm across open in late April, early May.

The fruits may be almost round, up to about 10 cm (4 in) long, ripening yellowish with sweet flesh

Bark is dark brown and broken into small thick square plates

Timber:

When freshly sawn the heartwood is a light pinkish brown with a definite purple hue, this evens out to a slightly darker reddish brown. The wood is very hard and strong.

Large batches of timber are not normally available; most will come from old orchards.

It is one of the country timbers that can be called fruitwood along with apple, cherry and plum.

Location within the arboretum:

The specimen is to be found in the north eastern corner of the old entrance gate area.

Furniture Makers Trees at The Arboretum - Kew at Castle Howard

Uses:

It is used for carving, turning, inlays and veneers.

It has found uses for musical instrument parts, drawing instruments and household tableware.

Also it has been traditionally used, with other fruitwood, for cottage furniture and internal joinery such as doors and cupboards.

The pear tree is grown principally for its fruit which, depending on variety, will produce an edible variety for use in jams and preserves, or a dry ‘perry’ pear that is used to make a drink similar to cider.