A natural bud sport off of the Anjou (genetic mutation in one part of the tree), the Red Anjou is nearly identical to the original Anjou Pear except for its red skin that turns dark red when ripe. The fruit stays a dark red when ripe but is ready to eat when the flesh near the stem has some give to it. The taste is sweet with tart, citrusy notes, while the shape is more egg-shaped, tapering near the stem. It is an excellent pear to eat fresh and to cook with. The tree blooms white in the spring and is a vigorous grower. They bloom slightly later than the Bartlett, but the timing still overlaps. The fruit is generally ready to harvest in late September through early October.

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