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Pear variety

Bartlett

Also known as Williams, Williams' Bon Chretien

The short answer

Bartlett requires 500–600 chill hours[1] and grows in USDA zones 5–9[1]. It needs a pollination partner[2].

Growing facts

Bartlett growing facts
Chill requirement500–600 chill hours[1] (nursery figure)
HardinessUSDA zones 5–9[1] (nursery figure)
PollinationNeeds a pollination partner, bloom group 2[2]
Harvest windowAugust[1]
Years to bearing4–6 years (typical for pears)[3]
USDA pomological watercolor of Bartlett pear
Pyrus communis: BartlettUSDA pomological watercolor, Deborah Griscom Passmore, 1902 · USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection

Plate provenance[4]

Pollination partners

Bartlett blooms in group 2. The closest bloom-time matches make the most reliable partners:

Show 10 more compatible varieties

Notes

  • Partially self-fruitful but should be cross-pollinated for heavy, regular crops.[2]
  • Self-fruitful in most climates of the Western U.S.; elsewhere pollenized by Bosc, D'Anjou, or Winter Nelis.[1]
  • One of the popular commercial varieties that are very susceptible to fire blight.[5]

A year with your Bartlett

When the work happens for a pear in USDA zone 7, anchored to typical frost dates.

Months for pruning, thinning, spray-timing windows, and harvest for Pear in zone 7
TaskJFMAMJJASOND
Prune———————————
Thin——————————
Spray timing———————
Harvest—————————
Care——————————

See the full month-by-month pear calendar for zone 7 →

Can I grow Bartlett where I live?

Check the verdict for a few regions, or your exact ZIP:

Growing a Bartlett? Get its care calendar for your exact ZIP code, with email reminders.

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Questions

How many chill hours does Bartlett need?
Bartlett needs 500–600 chill hours.
What hardiness zones suit Bartlett?
Bartlett grows in USDA zones 5–9.
Is Bartlett self-pollinating?
No — Bartlett needs a compatible pollination partner nearby.

Sources

  1. [1] Dave Wilson Nursery. Bartlett pear — variety specifications — accessed July 2026
  2. [2] Washington State University Tree Fruit. Pollination — Pear (WSU Tree Fruit) — accessed July 2026
  3. [3] Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. How soon will a newly planted fruit tree begin to bear fruit? (Yard and Garden FAQ) — accessed July 2026
  4. [4] USDA National Agricultural Library. USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection (Rare and Special Collections, 1886-1942) — accessed July 2026
  5. [5] Virginia Cooperative Extension (Virginia Tech). Growing Pears in Virginia (VCE 422-017) — accessed July 2026