Just as it begins to ripen, this very large pear has crisp flesh like an Asian pear, but as it matures to a deep yellow, the flesh becomes melting like a Bartlett -- best of both worlds. It begins ripening at the end of September and hangs on into November at 2500'. It seems to be self-fruitful, but likely it will be more productive with another variety planted near it. The mother trees are very vigorous and healthy, producing large harvests, annually. These are the largest, healthiest and heaviest producing pear variety consistently almost every year. It is a true permaculture plant, producing more food per tree than any tree we have seen. Codling moth resistant, fire blight resistant and the healthiest old pear trees we have found! The Kieffer pear was a chance cross between a European and Asian pear on Peter Kieffer's farm near Philadelphia in 1876.

The grandmother trees grow on two properties, less than 2 miles from Felix Gillet's former nursery in Nevada City, CA. Nevada City was a bustling place in the late 1800s, known as the Queen of the Northern Mines, with much agriculture to feed the miners. We have found many Felix Gillet trees in this community, likely due to the nearly 100 years of continuous nursery operation. Felix grew many of the trees still thriving in and around Nevada City.