Suggested Pear and Stone Fruit Varieties for Home Gardens in Iowa Horticulture Suggested Pear and Stone Fruit Varieties for Home Gardens in Iowa Pears and several stone fruits can be successfully grown in Iowa. Pears can be grown satisfactorily in most areas of the state. However, fireblight can be a serious problem. Gardeners should plant fireblight resistant pear varieties. The stone fruits include cherries, plums, apricots, and peaches.
Most stone fruits are relatively short-lived.
Some stone fruits, such as apricots, bloom early in the spring and are often damaged by a last frost or freeze. Others, such as sweet cherries and peaches, are not reliably hardy in Iowa. Suggested pear and stone fruit varieties for home gardens in Iowa are presented below. Sweet Cherries Not recommended, not reliably hardy in Iowa. Gardeners in southern Iowa may wish to try the varieties Gold, Van or Hedelfingen on a trial basis.