Chastity® Pear Tree

Chastity® is the trade name used for North Carolina State University’s patented hybrid flowering pear cultivar ‘NCPX2’ (PP30788), classified as Pyrus x triploida. The patent describes a triploid interspecific hybrid with an upright pyramidal form, white flowers, showy fall color, fire blight resistance, and greatly reduced fertility—not sterility. [U.S. Plant Patent PP30788](https://www.freepatentsonline.com/PP30788.html) documents its denomination, parentage, and tested traits. ## Landscape use This deciduous ornamental pear combines white flowers with variable orange-to-red autumn foliage. The patent’s botanical description records an original nine-year-old tree at 8 metres tall and 6 metres wide; this age-specific observation gives context for growth but does not define every mature specimen. Its reduced fertility means it should not be described as seedless or assumed to be a reliable pollenizer. ## Maintenance Give the upright crown room to develop and plant in a site suited to flowering pears. The patent reports high resistance to fire blight and hardiness to at least USDA zone 5b, while noting that colder-zone testing was incomplete. Monitor for local disease and structural issues, and use regional extension advice for pruning and care.