The Bartlett Pear tree is the best-selling variety of pear worldwide and a very old variety. They are also known as the Williams pear, especially in Europe. While the fruit itself is often a light green color in stores, the Bartlett will ripen to yellow with hints of red but should be allowed to ripen off the tree. It has the classic pear shape. This firm and juicy pear variety is excellent for fresh eating but also for canning and cooking since it has a pleasant sweet taste and preserves its firm texture even when heated. The tree blooms white in the spring and is a vigorous grower. They bloom slightly later in the spring, and the fruit is generally ready to harvest in late August to early September.

Bartlett pears are partly self-fertile but will bear much heavier with another pear nearby. The Anjou, Moonglow, and Kieffer will pollinate the Bartlett as long as they are planted within 100 feet of each other. In windy areas, it’s often a good idea to plant the trees closer together.