(W5, A25 planted 2010)The fruit of Shipova can be large and the pear-like flavor is sweet and delicious. Shipova trees often take 7- 10 years to flower. While pear or Mt. Ash can be used as rootstock, grafting onto aronia (which also dwarfs the tree) can shorten the wait. It is somewhat self fertile, but may set larger crops when planted near a mountain ash or very late blooming pear tree that blooms at the same time, like Bosc.
Pear, Mountain Ash, Hawthorn and Aronia are closely related genera which are mutually compatible. Shipova is the largest and most flavorful of the inter-species hybrids. Although Shipova is generally easy to grow, it can have problems with fire blight in some areas. It can take partial shade in some locations, but full sun is probably best in the Pacific Northwest. The large yellow fruit is roundish and has an excellent European pear flavor.
An attractive tree, it needs little pruning and has yellow fall leaf color.
