Thompson's

A quality dessert pear but requiring a warm location.

Origin: Belgium, 1820

Pollination: Thompson's is self-sterile and would require a pollinator to produce a crop.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. More ...

Thompson's pear trees produced to order

Closing date for custom graft orders: 14 Jul 2025

We do not stock this variety, but we can produce custom-graft trees for you. Trees can be grafted on any of the following rootstocks:

Form	Rootstock	Price	Quantity
Maiden	OHxF87Semi-vigorous	£39.00
Maiden	PyrusVery vigorous	£39.00

Custom graft trees would be supplied in December 2026. More details of our custom grafting service here.

History and description of Thompson's

Believed to have been raised by Van Mons in Belgium and sent to England c 1820. Named after Robert Thompson, Fruit Foreman at the RHS Garden, Chiswick, London.

Medium to large sized fruit. Uneven and bumpy, oval to pyriform shape. Rough, pale golden yellow skin up to half covered with brown russet. White, smooth, juicy flesh. Excellent, sweet, aromatic flavour.

Moderately vigorous, upright tree. Fair but irregular cropping. Best grown in a warm location. Attractive red autumn foliage.

Characteristics of Thompson's pear trees

Use	Dessert
Colour
Flavour
Fruit size	Large
Picking time	Oct
Season of use	Oct-Nov
Tree vigour	Moderate
Tree habit	Upright
Fruit-bearing	Spur-bearer
Cropping	Erratic
Suitable for	Northern Britain
Pollination date	19
Pollination group	D
Self-fertility	Self-sterile
Pollinators	Pollination partners