Nijisseiki, whose name translates to Twentieth Century, has earned its place as the benchmark Asian pear against which newer cultivars are measured. The glossy green-skinned fruit is crisp, sweet, and juicy, maturing in late summer before the foliage turns a warm red-orange that extends the tree's ornamental season well past harvest. Spring announces itself with bright white flowers, giving this tree a full year of interest rather than a single moment of production.

As a green-skinned cultivar, Nijisseiki is more susceptible to fire blight than the russet Japanese types, and frost timing matters because the flowers open early in spring. That said, cold hardiness, drought tolerance, and heat tolerance through zones 5 to 9 make it broadly adaptable, and urban conditions present little obstacle. Fruit can be stored for up to five months, and a second compatible cultivar nearby ensures the cross-pollination the tree needs for a full harvest.