Family: Proteaceae
Common Name: Woody Pear

There are about four species of shrubs or trees in this genus from warm, dry areas of Australia. Leaves are leathery and sometimes serrated, and the dense flower spikes are similar to those of its relatives, grevilleas and hakeas. Flowers are creamy white, often clothed in rusty hairs. The large, woody fruits are in the shape of a pear. These plants are unlikely to be available outside their native Australia. In frost-prone climates, they would need to be grown in an intermedi­ate to warm greenhouse or conservatory.

Species

X. augustifolium, sand plain woody pear, from Western Australia, grows 3-5 m (10-16 ft) high, with narrow leaves and creamy yellow flowers, in summer, followed by pale gray fruits covered in soft, gray down.

X. occi­dentale, western woody pear, from sandy, open woodlands of Western Australia, is a tree, to 8 m (26 ft), with a spreading crown. The trunk is covered with dark brown, flaky bark. The large, wavy-edged leaves are prickly at the margins and the creamy yellow, summer flower spikes are followed by large, 'pear' fruits, which grow up to 15 cm (6 in) long and persist on the tree for some time.

X. pyriforme, woody pear, from eastern Australia, is a shrub or small tree, 3-9 m (10-30 ft) high, with leathery, lance-shaped leaves, cream flowers surrounded by rusty hairs, and large, gray, velvety fruits.

Cultivation

Under glass, grow in pots of acid, gritty, well-drained, soil-based potting compost. Provide maximum light. Outdoors grow in a sunny spot with well drained, acid, sandy soil. Propagate from the winged seeds which are released from the fruit when ripe. Germinate in a heated propagating case. The seeds generally germinate readily, but subsequent growth is quite slow. The young plants need ample mois­ture in the early growth stages.

Climate

Zone 10 or tropical.