Highly attractive large fruits with a classic symmetrical pyriform shape. Pale greenish-yellow skin with a bold red flush, covered with fine russet netting and small lenticels. Juicy melting cream-colored flesh is sweet, yet briskly acidic and lemony. Perfect for boiling down into stroop, a Dutch pear syrup that some say rivals maple. Sold in Brussels as Doyenné de Mérode but its name was inexplicably changed to Doyenné Boussock when brought to France a few decades later. Doyenne is a French forename given to many pears to indicate excellence. Added to the American Pomological Society catalog in 1856. Once widely planted in U.K. gardens and grown for market in the eastern U.S. Fruit does not store for long.

Vigorous cold-hardy trees are productive annual bearers. Z4. Maine Grown. NEW! (2½–6' bare-root trees)