Tree to c. 15 m high, rarely to c. 30 m; branchlets glabrous or glabrescent, young plants sometimes with spines. Leaves ovate, elliptic or suborbicular, 2–5(–7) cm long, 1.5–2.5 cm wide, base broadly cuneate to rounded, apex acute or shortly acuminate, margins serrate, sometimes entire, becoming glabrous above, pubescent or more or less glabrous below except for scattered hairs on veins; petiole slender, 1.5–5 cm long; stipules caducous. Inflorescence a 6–9-flowered umbel-like raceme. Sepals pubescent, persistent in fruit; petals obovate, 1.3–1.5 cm long, white; stamens c. 20, anthers pink, styles 5, free. Pome pyriform to subglobose, c. 1.5–10 cm diam., glabrous, green or yellow, sometimes reddish. Flowers spring.
Wim, VVP, GipP, Gold, CVU, DunT, NIS, HSF, HNF, OtR, VAlp. Also naturalised WA, SA. Native to Europe and Asia.
Thousands of different cultivars have been grown for the edible fruit. Occasionally escaping orchards in Victoria with populations establishing in nearby bushland.
