The influence of wood age on floral bud distribution was investigated on the nashi (Pyrus serotinaRehder var.cultaRehder) cultivars ‘Hosui’, ‘Kosui’, ‘Nijisseiki’, and ‘Shinsui’ at 3, 6, and 9 years of age. Comparisons were made between each cultivar grown on either pergola, Y‐frame, or centre‐leader training systems. Floral bud numbers were noted for both spur and lateral sites, and at shoot tips. In all cultivars, most floral buds were produced on young wood. This was especially marked for the lateral‐bearing cultivars ‘Hosui’, ‘Kosui’, and ‘Shinsui’. Bud development on ‘Nijisseiki’ was more evenly distributed over all wood ages, with a significantly higher proportion of spurs. Spur production was lowest in ‘Kosui’. Tree growth was most vigorous on Y‐frame and least vigorous on pergola systems, but training systems did not consistently affect the mix of wood ages or bud development. All cultivar/training system combinations showed a changing pattern of wood age and floral bud distribution over time. From 6–9 years of age the proportion of 1–2‐year‐old wood declined especially rapidly on ‘Hosui’ and ‘Kosui’, placing increased reliance on bud development from older wood and on spurs.