Pear Tree Lifespan: How Long Do These Trees Live?

08.06.2023 - 16:09 / gardenerspath.com / Tabitha Caswell

If I tell you that the oldest living cultivated fruit tree in America is nearly 400 years old, would you believe me? Well, it’s true. And not only that, it’s a pear tree! Who knew? According to the New England Historical Society, William Endicott planted the specimen sometime between 1630 and 1649 on his farm in Massachusetts.

This mighty pear tree has survived almost 400 years of drought, vandalism, and changes in land use and ownership. And, it still stands today.

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I planted my own Pyrus saplings in 2018, and I’ll be honest – I wasn’t thinking about how long they might live.

I was thinking more about how long it might take them to produce the sweet, succulent fruit I craved. But now, after learning about the Endicott pear tree, I’m wondering if my own specimens might still be standing in 400 years. Wouldn’t that just be cool?

And let’s be honest, planting fruit trees can be considered an investment – a long-term investment in some cases – and a longer life means a better return on that investment.

We all want our pear trees to live as long as possible, don’t we?

To give mine their best chance of longevity, I’ve done some research, and I’d love to share it with you. Here’s what I’ll be covering in this article:

If you’re thinking about planting a pear tree, or you’ve already planted or inherited one, you’re probably curious to learn more. Let’s go!

If there were only one kind of pear in existence, this would be a straightforward, simple answer.

But because there are more than 3,000 varieties grown worldwide, the best I can do is give you an