Pear (European), Ayers, Bare Root

Pear (European), Ayers (Pyrus communis ‘Ayers’)

Ayers is a Southern heirloom pear prized for its intensely sweet flavor, smooth texture, and high resistance to fire blight — one of the most common diseases affecting pears. The medium-sized fruit ripens in mid to late summer, with yellow skin often flushed with red and soft, juicy, buttery flesh. It’s one of the best fresh-eating (dessert) pears, often eaten right off the tree when slightly soft and aromatic.

Developed in Tennessee and well-suited to warm, humid climates, Ayers thrives in USDA Zones 6–9, and tolerates southern heat better than most European varieties. It’s partially self-fertile, but fruit set is significantly improved with a pollination partner like Moonglow or Kieffer. The tree is compact, productive, and adaptable to backyard orchards, food forests, and regenerative plantings, especially where low-maintenance and disease resistance are priorities.

Key Characteristics

• Incredibly sweet, melting-textured fruit
  Ayers pears are intensely sweet with almost no acidity. The flesh is buttery and smooth, making it an ideal dessert pear for fresh eating, fruit salads, or seasonal snacks.
• Fire blight resistant and low-maintenance
  One of the most disease-resistant European pear varieties, especially valued in humid regions. An excellent choice for organic and low-spray orchards.
• Partially self-fertile, benefits from cross-pollination
  Will produce some fruit alone but performs best with a nearby European pear like Moonglow, Kieffer, or Bartlett to ensure a heavy crop.
• Compact and heat-tolerant
  Perfect for southern growers, Ayers is heat-tolerant and handles the humidity of the Southeast exceptionally well. Its smaller size makes it a great fit for backyard orchards and edible hedgerows.
• Supports pollinators in early spring
  Blooms early with clusters of white flowers that attract bees and other beneficial insects — a beautiful and functional element in polyculture systems.

Product Details

• Sun requirements: Full sun
• Soil requirements: Medium, well-drained
• Bloom time: Early spring
• Bloom color: White
• Fruit qualities: Medium-sized; yellow skin with red blush; buttery, sweet flesh; low acid
• Fruit uses: Fresh eating, salads, dessert
• Fruit ripening month: Mid to late August
• Required chill hours: ~600–800
• Pollination requirements: Partially self-fertile; best with Moonglow, Kieffer, or Bartlett
• USDA Hardiness zones: 6–9

Ayers is a top-tier dessert pear for warm climates, offering melt-in-your-mouth sweetness with minimal care. Its fire blight resistance and fresh-eating quality make it a smart addition to food forests, regenerative orchards, and backyard gardens.