Seckel Pear Tree

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Description

Also called sugar pear, candy pear

Small dessert pears that are super-sweet with a hint of spice. Often used in cooking and canning, but also enjoyed fresh. Tree is disease-resistant to fireblight. Originates around Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the 1700s. Harvest in September. Best pollinators: Starking® Delicious™ or Moonglow. See more recommended pollinators below.

Note: Not a suitable pollinator for Bartlett pear trees.

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Characteristics

Bloom Color White
Bloom Time Early - Mid
Chill Hours 500 - 800
Fruit Color Brown
Fruit Size Small
Hardiness Zone Range 5 - 8
Pollination Pollinator Required
Ripens/Harvest September
Shade/Sun Full Sun
Soil Composition Loamy
Soil Moisture Well Drained
Soil pH Level 6.0 - 7.0
Taste Sweet
Texture Fine Grained
Years to Bear 4 - 6

Size & Spacing

Mature Size

The mature size of this variety depends on the version you choose to plant:
Standard 18 - 20' tall x 12 - 13' wide
Semi-Dwarf 12 - 15' tall x 9 - 11' wide
Dwarf 8 - 10' tall x 6 - 7' wide

Recommended Spacing

The space needed for this variety to grow depends on the size you plant:
Standard 18 - 20'
Semi-Dwarf 12 - 15'
Dwarf 8 - 10'

Zone Compatibility

This Variety's Zone Range 5 - 8
My Hardiness Zone ?
The USDA hardiness zones offer a guide to varieties that will grow well in certain climates. Each zone corresponds to the minimum winter temperatures experienced in a given area. Make sure that your hardiness zone lies within the zone compatibility range of this variety before ordering.

Pollination

This variety requires another one for adequate pollination.

Cross-pollination by a different variety is key to its growing and bearing success. Plant one of these varieties within 100' for best pollination.

Tools & Supplies

Having the proper tools and supplies when growing your own can make the difference between a good harvest and a great harvest! Here's a list that our experts recommend for this variety.

Planting & Care

Learn all about how to grow pear trees in The Growing Guide. An entire section of our website dedicated to your growing success.

Shipping Information

Arrives when it's time to plant

Your success is our priority. We work hard to make sure that your order arrives at the ideal time for planting in your location based on your local climate conditions.

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Questions & Answers

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48 Questions
Why did you choose this?

Excellent value.

heirloom type I wanted to try

Picked up whenever I was young didn't know where to find another tree Glad you had them also looking for Green Gage plum tree but they're out of stock please let me know when they come in

Love the taste

If I plant a moonglow pear as a pollinator for my Sekel pear will the moonglow bear fruit, too? Or, does it need another pollinator??

They will serve to pollinate one another. Seckel is just about the only other variety that will.

Will Seckel and Comice be good pollinators for one another?

I really do not know. I would go with Stark's recommendations, whenever possible. That is why I bought a moonglow also. Sorry.

Is seckel a reliable pollinator? I had read that seckel can be a poor pollinator for other trees.

That is correct. It is not pollen-sterile, but it does not pollinate well with all European pears, especially Bartlett and Anjou varieties/strains.

Which pear tree is a good pollinator for Bartlett trees?
My Seckel seems to bloom several weeks before my moon glow. Is that normal? Seckel is leafed out and blooming now, moo glow does not even have leafs yet or buds open yet.

This is the opposite of what we experience. Our moon glow (which is a pollinating partner for one of our other Harrow pears) is first to bloom, with the Seckel coming a little later. However, we have also noted that subtle differences in where they are planted can make a big difference in timing. For example, we get snow drifting in some areas of the orchard, which slows down the bloom cycle for those trees. It just takes a while to melt that deeper snow--which keeps the soils cold. Obviously shaded areas make a difference, as does whether the planting area slopes to the north, which prevents direct sun exposure. Who knew there'd be this many variables? I'm not sure where you are located, we're still in snow. I usually prune a little late in the season (about now) to delay the bloom cycle so as to avoid the risk of losing the crop from late frosts. This means I have to pay extra attenion to insects (as it puts blooming later, and more into the spring bug cycle), but I do avoid frost damage. Next year, when the trees are a little bigger, I'm planning on grafting different types of pears onto the Seckel and Moon Glow (even just an even exchange) to test over the long haul whether placement is a deciding factor in bloom timing. The exchange will also give me protection against the loss of any one critical pollinating tree.

ive planted a Bartlett pear.  will that do for a pollinator for a sickle pear?

Yes, they will work together as pollinators.

When do you think you will have seckel pear trees again??

We appreciate you reaching out to us. We do not have a guaranteed ETA on when more will become available. We are very sorry for this inconvenience and completely understand your disappointment. Rest assured, that if you sign up for a notification, you'll be one of the first to be notified when it becomes available again.

If you have any further questions please don't hesitate to reach back out to us, remember that we're here for you. Have a great day!

Is that a bushel?

What are we talking about here? This looks like a photo of four pears still attached to a tree limb. A bushel is a measure of volume about the size of a laundry basket. Check the USDA canning guide on the Internet. They give the weight of various fruits,including pears,
per bushel as well as approximate number of fruit that represents as it relates to canning. The amount of fruit varies depending on size. And the Seckel is a fairly small pear, best for eating fresh or specialty cuisine including canning.

Have seen conflicting information about pollination status for Seckel pears.  Some sources say they require an external pollinator while others say that they are self pollinating when grown in an arid climate. Any views on this?

All of our sources state this is not self pollinating and since this is grafted we do list a pollinator is required in order for thsi tree to bear fruit.

Is my grimes golden apple tree a good pollinator for Seckel pear tree?

No One species cannot pollinate another; for example, a plum cannot pollinate an apple, and a pear cannot pollinate a peach. A fruit tree that requires a pollinator needs a different variety of the same species that has a similar bloom time.

Customer Reviews

72 Ratings
4.0out of 5 stars
72 Ratings

Rated 5 stars by 60% of reviewers

Rated 4 stars by 15% of reviewers

Rated 3 stars by 7% of reviewers

Rated 2 stars by 4% of reviewers

Rated 1 star by 14% of reviewers

1-10 of 72 Reviews
Rated 5 out of 5
Apr 9, 2025
NE Oklahoma
Slow growing for me. But I have 4 or so pears on the tree this year! Tree came in great condition. I looking forward to trying a Seckle pear this season.
Rated 5 out of 5
Dec 27, 2024
he plant is excellent as I expect with good price. it grows fast .
Rated 5 out of 5
Jul 28, 2024
So far, so goo!
Trees arrived in good condition as advertised. So far. So good!
Rated 5 out of 5
Jul 8, 2024
Just planted the trees this spring. So far everything is growing well.We'll see in a couple years how they produce.
Rated 5 out of 5
Jul 1, 2024
Seckel tree
Looks good . Growing leaves everywhere. Very healthy.
Rated 5 out of 5
Jun 30, 2024
Healthy root system, Arrived a few days early, got it planted the next day, looking green and healthy a couple of months on
Rated 5 out of 5
Jun 26, 2024
Beautiful!!
I dreamed of having a Seckel pear tree as I've been try to grow native plants and trees. The bare root tree, being dormant at shipping naturally looked lifeless BUT. . . Not so!! It came to life beautifully!! Stark brothers is helping my dream come true!'
Rated 5 out of 5
May 27, 2024
nice tree
arrived in great shape. Started growth immediately. Verry pleased with purchase.
Rated 5 out of 5
Jan 30, 2024
Healthy trees
Trees arrived healthy and ready to plant! Love
This company!!!!
Rated 5 out of 5
Nov 3, 2023
Beautiful tree!
It's growing slowly but very healthy. I can't wait for it to bloom and produce fruit. I've had it to 3 years now.