Autumn 2025 / Winter 2026 seasonWe still have plenty of trees left for the winter planting season, but it is best to order ASAP.
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Williams Bon Chretien
Probably the best known and most widely grown pear throughout the world.
Origin: Berkshire UK, 1770
Pollination: Williams Bon Chretien is partially self-fertile and would produce some crop without a pollinator but would benefit considerably from a pollinator.Find pollination partners >
British-grown 
All our bare-root trees are personally hand-grafted by our Nursery Manager and grown on at our nursery in Kent. We have Defra and Plant Healthy certification.
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History and description of Williams Bon Chretien
Originated before 1770 in the garden of a schoolmaster called Mr Wheeler in Aldermaston, Berkshire, UK. His successor in the garden Mr Stair sent grafts to Richard Williams, a nurseryman at Turnham Green, whose name was given to the variety in 1814. It was imported into the USA towards the end of the 18th century where in 1817 Enoch Bartlett gave it the name Bartlett. It has since become the most widely grown commercial pear throughout the world. It is not only one of the most popular dessert pears but also the most widely used pear for canning.Medium to large pyriform fruit. Smooth, pale green skin ripening to pale golden yellow. Almost no russet and occasional faint red stripes. White, very smooth, juicy flesh. Sweet with a hint of acidity and distinctive musky flavour. A quality dessert and cooking variety.
Moderately vigorous, spreading tree. Heavy, reliable cropper. Fruit must be picked promptly when ready as it is prone to rotting from the core.
Characteristics of Williams Bon Chretien pear trees
| Use | Dual Cul & Des |
| Colour | |
| Flavour | |
| Fruit size | Medium |
| Picking time | Sep |
| Season of use | Sep |
| Tree vigour | Moderate |
| Tree habit | Spreading |
| Fruit-bearing | Spur-bearer |
| Cropping | Heavy |
| Suitable for | Late Frost Northern Britain |
| Pollination date | 20 |
| Pollination group | D |
| Self-fertility | Partially self-fertile |
| Incompatibility group | 1 |
| Pollinators | Pollination partners |
| Progeny | Beth Bristol Cross Gorham Highland Merton Pride Packham's Triumph |
| Sports | Sensation Red Williams |
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