Pear

White blossoms smother pear branches in early spring, combining ornamental beauty with practical value. Seedling pears grow into sturdy, long-lived trees, and because pears do not come true from seed, each one is genetically distinct. Fruit and dense branches benefit birds and other wildlife, while the flowers support early pollinators. Most growers sow pear seed to raise rootstock, then graft a favorite variety onto the young trunk once it reaches pencil thickness. A winter of cold, moist rest prepares the seeds to sprout in spring.