Luscious Pear Tree

Luscious lives up to its name — a South Dakota State University pear developed specifically for challenging northern climates that produces medium-sized, bright yellow fruit with a soft red blush and a juicy, sweet, melting flavor that’s richer and more intense than Bartlett. The flesh stays solid to the core at peak ripeness, making it one of the finest fresh-eating dessert pears available for home orchardists in Zones 4–8. Good resistance to fire blight, striking red fall foliage, and an upright globe-shaped form make it as beautiful in the landscape as it is rewarding at harvest. Late September ripening, keeps up to two weeks in storage.

Richer and More Intense Than Bartlett

Luscious’s flavor is its defining quality — sweet, juicy, and more intensely flavorful than the Bartlett standard that most pear lovers know. The melting, fine-textured flesh has a richness and depth that makes it genuinely exceptional for fresh eating at peak ripeness in late September, and the unusual characteristic of staying firm to the core even at full ripeness means the texture holds its satisfying bite rather than going soft throughout. Outstanding fresh off the tree, and keeps its eating quality for up to two weeks in proper storage.

Developed at South Dakota State — Built for Northern Gardens

Luscious was specifically developed at South Dakota State University for cold, challenging northern climates — and it shows in the performance. Cold hardy into Zone 4 with good resistance to fire blight, one of the most serious and damaging pear diseases, it delivers dessert-quality pears where many other varieties struggle to produce reliably. For northern orchardists who’ve been frustrated by pear varieties that underperform at the edge of their zone range, Luscious is a meaningful and well-proven answer.

Striking Red Fall Color — An Ornamental Pear Tree Too

Beyond the harvest, Luscious delivers one of the most striking fall displays of any pear variety — the glossy green foliage transitions to vivid red in fall, giving this productive fruit tree genuine ornamental presence through the close of the season. The upright globe-shaped habit is attractive in the landscape year-round, fitting naturally into open yards and urban landscapes alike.

Why Growers Choose Luscious

• Richer and more intensely flavored than Bartlett — dessert-quality sweetness and complexity
• Flesh stays firm to the core at peak ripeness — distinctive texture unlike most pear varieties
• Developed at South Dakota State University — bred specifically for northern cold-climate performance
• Good fire blight resistance — reliable production with less disease management
• Striking red fall foliage — ornamental beauty to close the season
• Late September harvest — keeps up to two weeks in storage