Oleaster-Leaved Pear Care
Pyrus elaeagrifolia
A thorny and very hardy wild pear species native to Anatolia, striking for its silvery-gray leaves. It is extremely tolerant of drought, heat and calcareous soils. It is suitable for xeric gardens in the landscape and is a valuable rootstock for pear cultivars.
Hardy · -30 °C / -22 °F
Monthly care calendar
Timings are for a temperate Northern Hemisphere climate. In warmer areas tasks start earlier, in colder areas later; in the Southern Hemisphere shift them by six months.
January
- Pruning: Main pruning time. Remove only branches that spoil the shape, as well as dry, diseased and overlapping branches. It is usually left to grow naturally.
- Plant protection: Bordeaux mixture or dormant oil (mineral oil) can be applied for overwintering pests and diseases.
- General care: Dormancy period.
- Pests & diseases: Check the trunk and branches for scale insects (Coccoidea).
February
- Pruning: While dormant, remove dry, broken, crossing and inward-growing branches so that air and light reach the inside of the crown.
- Plant protection: Just before the buds swell, Bordeaux mixture or a copper-based fungicide can be applied.
- General care: Clear away pruning debris.
- Frost risk: As the buds swell, its sensitivity to frost increases.
March
- Watering: Not needed. Spring rains are sufficient.
- Fertilizing: Apply a balanced fertilizer as the plant emerges from dormancy.
- Plant protection: Against fire blight (Erwinia amylovora) risk, copper-based preparations may be applied at the start and end of flowering, though plants are usually resistant. Do not use insecticides on plants in flower, as this harms bees.
- General care: White flowers open just before leafing out or together with the leaves.
- Pests & diseases: Shoot tips that suddenly darken may be a sign of fire blight.
- Frost risk: Flowers are very sensitive to frost.
April
- Watering: If there is no rainfall, water every 15 days.
- Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
- General care: The leaves emerge and fruit set begins.
- Pests & diseases: Look for aphids (green or black clusters of small insects) on fresh shoot tips. If there are only a few, you can knock them off with a strong jet of water.
May
- Watering: If there is no rainfall, water once a week.
- Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
- General care: Spread a 5-7 cm layer of mulch over the root zone; it retains soil moisture and suppresses weeds. Do not pile mulch against the trunk.
- Pests & diseases: Check fresh shoot tips for aphids (small clusters of green or black insects). If there are few, you can knock them off with a strong spray of water. If you see black spots with yellow rings on the leaves (black spot), collect the diseased leaves and remove them from the garden; the disease overwinters in fallen leaves.
June
- Watering: Water deeply twice a week; prefer infrequent and generous watering over small and frequent. The root zone should be wetted to a depth of 30-40 cm.
- Fertilizing: Apply the second fertilizer dose during the growing season. Do not fertilize after August; late growth will not survive winter.
- Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
- General care: Growth slows.
- Pests & diseases: Check fresh shoot tips for aphids (small clusters of green or black insects). If there are few, you can knock them off with a strong spray of water. If you see black spots with yellow rings on the leaves (black spot), collect the diseased leaves and remove them from the garden; the disease overwinters in fallen leaves.
July
- Watering: Water deeply twice a week; prefer infrequent and generous watering over small and frequent. The root zone should be wetted to a depth of 30-40 cm.
- General care: It shows full tolerance to the hottest and driest conditions.
August
- Watering: Water deeply twice a week; prefer infrequent and generous watering over small and frequent. The root zone should be wetted to a depth of 30-40 cm.
September
- Watering: If there is no rainfall, water once a week.
- Fertilizing: It must absolutely not be given.
- Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
- General care: The fruits (wild pears) ripen but are still very hard and tart. Wait until late autumn for harvest.
- Pests & diseases: If you see black spots with yellow halos on the leaves (black spot), collect the diseased leaves and remove them from the garden; the disease overwinters in fallen leaves.
October
- Watering: If there is no rainfall, water every 15 days.
- General care: The leaves begin to fall. The fruits soften after the first frosts and can be picked.
- Frost risk: Light frosts are beneficial for the ripening of the fruits.
November
- General care: Collect fallen leaves; many disease agents and pests overwinter under leaves.
December
- Pruning: Once the tree is fully dormant, major pruning can begin toward the end of the month.
- General care: Full dormancy period.
The care advice on this page is general and for information only; it is not professional advice. Plant age, soil and your garden’s microclimate can change the outcome. Plant protection products are mentioned only as general information; they are regulated, and the choice, dose and timing must be decided by a qualified professional under local rules. Consult a landscape architect or agronomist before applying.
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