Scottish growing tool

Pears Variety Selector: Which One For Your Garden

Every recommendation below traces back to our full Pears varieties comparison — this page is the fast route to one answer for your specific situation, no clicking through required.

If: No warm wall, just an average site or A warm, sheltered wall to spare → Not sure, just give me the safest all-round choice or Not sure, just give me the safest all-round choice

ConferenceAGM

Conference is the best overall pick for most Scottish gardens, the only one of the eight AGM varieties tagged for coping with cooler conditions, and it's self-fertile, so a single tree will set fruit alone. It's the safest default for an average Scottish site.

If: Smallest plot, shortest season

BethAGM

Beth asks less of its site by finishing its crop earliest, ripening in September, and is compact, which suits the smallest, shortest-season plot. It also needs less of a warm wall than the flavour-first varieties, a sheltered spot away from wind can be enough.

If: Wet or humid site

Beurré HardyAGM

Beurré Hardy's scab resistance is a genuine reason to lean toward it on a damp site, though it's slow to start bearing and needs a sheltered, sunny spot.

If: A warm, sheltered wall to spare → Best possible flavour

Doyenné du ComiceAGM

Doyenné du Comice needs a warm, sheltered, south- or west-facing site, but gives what most sources point to first for flavour, even though it only yields moderate crops. Worth it deliberately when flavour matters more than volume.

If: A warm, sheltered wall to spare → A reliable, dependable cropper

GorhamAGM

Gorham needs the same warm, sheltered site as the other flavour-first varieties, but is reliable rather than temperamental once it has that warmth, and self-fertile in its own right, an early-ripening option for a warm site that wants a dependable cropper.

If: A warm, sheltered wall to spare → Storing pears deep into winter

Joséphine de MalinesAGM

Joséphine de Malines is the latest-keeping of the eight, often still in storage into the New Year, but needs the same warm, sheltered site as the flavour-first varieties. Worth it specifically for stretching the pear season deep into winter, best grown as a bush since it's a tip bearer.

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Pears growing guide →Full Pears varieties comparison →