Pyrus calleryana
(Bradford Pear, Callery 'Bradford' Pear, Callery Pear)

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Similar but less problematic plants:
Acer buergerianum
Amelanchier x lamarckii
Cercis canadensis
Cornus mas
Prunus
'Okame'
Pyrus calleryana
is often confused with:
Malus hybrids
Photinia serratifolia
Prunus
'Kanzan'
Prunus mume
Prunus x yedoensis
Native alternative(s) for
Pyrus calleryana
Aesculus pavia
Amelanchier arborea
Cercis canadensis
Chionanthus virginicus
Cornus florida
Crataegus phaenopyrum
Prunus americana
Viburnum prunifolium
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Acer saccharinum
Nandina domestica
Ulmus americana
Pyrus calleryana
has some common disease problems:
Fire Blight
Pyrus calleryana
has some other problems:
Callery Pear: 'Bradford' and Other Varieties and Their Invasive Progeny
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Pyrus calleryana
Common Name(s):
Bradford Pear
Callery 'Bradford' Pear
Callery Pear
Phonetic Spelling
PI-russ kal-er-ee-A-na
This plant is an invasive species in North Carolina
Description
This plant is problematic, and alternatives should be considered.  Please see the suggestions in the left-hand column or see
this video
created by
Charlotte Glen
as part of the
Plants, Pests, and Pathogens
series.
Callery pear is a large, dense, pyramidal, woody, broadleaf, deciduous tree in the rose family (Rosaceae) that was introduced from Asia and is invasive in North Carolina, as well as in other southeastern United States. The genus name,
Pyrus
, is Latin for pear. The epithet, c
alleryanna
, is in honor of Joseph M. M. Callery, an Italian who was a missionary to China and botanical collector.
The Callery pear is one of the first trees to bloom in the spring and is covered with white flowers that have an objectionable, foul smell. The branches grow at upright angles with weak crotches that break with age, wind and ice. Pruning is required to improve strength and structure of the tree. It  grows up to 50 feet tall and 20 to 35 feet wide and reproduces by seed. It was commonly employed in residential and commercial developments for its rapid growth and tolerance of urban conditions, though it is relatively short lived and can be very thorny.
Fruit is non-ornamental and hidden by the foliage. The most notable cultivar is the 'Bradford Pear.' It has strongly ascending branches and is narrower than typical selections of Callery pear. It also develops tight crotches that are likely to be split in half by heavy wind and rainstorms.
When a ‘Bradford Pear’ cross-pollinates with other trees, it reverts back to the invasive species Callery pear. Therefore, it is advisable to select an alternative native flowering shade tree such as the Eastern redbud, flowering dogwood, common serviceberry or American plum for the home landscape.
Quick ID Hints:
The bark is light to reddish brown or light gray, smooth, ridged and furrowed with age with tight crotches; young bark may have horizontal elongated lenticels.
The twigs are stout, initially white pubescent, and mature to a smooth, shiny brown; branches maybe tipped with a thorn.
The buds are elongate, wooly and gray-pubescent.
The leaves are dark green on the upper surface and pale beneath, glabrous, alternate, simple, ovate and glossy with crenate and wavy margins.
The bloom is creamy white, 0.75 to 1-inch wide, five petaled, showy and malodorous, and arranged in a dense corymb or cyme.
Fruits are yellowish green to brown, round and 0.5 to 1-inch in diameter.
Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems
:  It can be affected by fire blight, which can spread to other Rosaceous crops (like pears, apples, and loquat). Potential insect pests may include aphids, scales or borers.
VIDEO Created by
Homegrown
featuring
Jeana Myers
, Horticulture Extension Agent for
NC State Extension
Profile Video:
See this plant in the following landscape

Cultivars / Varieties:
'Aristocrat'
stronger crotches, susceptible to fire blight, purple red to orange fall foliage susceptible
'Autumn Blaze'
more narrow form, cold hardy zone 4
'Bradford'
most fire blight resistant, showy flowers, tends to split with age
'Capital'
columnar, purple red to bronze fall foliage, fire blight resistant
'Chanticleer'
narrow columnar, reddish fall foliage, hardy zone 4
'Cleveland Select'
fragrant, less breakage, red, orange, purple fall color, no fruits
'Invasive'
'Redspire'
pyramidal, yellow to red fall foliage
'Whitehouse'
more narrow form
'Aristocrat', 'Autumn Blaze', 'Bradford', 'Capital', 'Chanticleer', 'Cleveland Select', 'Invasive', 'Redspire', 'Whitehouse'
Tags:
#showy flowers
#deciduous
#shade tree
#invasive
#heat tolerant
#drought tolerant
#pyramidal
#fall interest
#high maintenance
#flowering tree
#air pollution tolerant
#fast growing
#aggressive
#deer resistant
#weak wood
#fantz
#bird friendly
#malodorous
#landscape plant sleuths course
#short lived
#wildlife friendly
#weedy
#poor soil tolerant
#HS111
#HS304
#fpp
Whole tree
Country Boy 1949
CC-BY-SA 2.0
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Flowers
Gary Craig
CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
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Fall color
Camilla TWU
CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
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Fruit
Martin LaBar
CC BY-NC 2.0
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Damaged by ice
Janice Waltzer
CC BY 2.0
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'Invasive' Form
Jim Robbins
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
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'Aristocrat' Full Form
Jim Robbins
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
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'Capital' Fire Blight Damage
Jim Robbins
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
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'Chanticleer' Full Form
Jim Robbins
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
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'Bradford' form
Jim Robbins
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
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Fall Color Form
Jim Robbins
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
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'Bradford' Fruit and Leaves
Jim Robbins
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
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'Chanticleer' Flower Form
Jim Robbins
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
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'Bradford' Fall Color Leaf and Fruit
Jim Robbins
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
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'Bradford' Fall Color Form
Jim Robbins
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
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Fruit and branches (Warren County, NC)- Winter
Cathy Dewitt
CC BY 4.0
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Fruit Close-up (Wake County, NC)
Cathy Dewitt
CC BY 4.0
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Flower Buds (Warren County,NC)-Early Spring
Cathy Dewitt
CC BY 4.0
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Form 'Bradford'
Jim Janke
CC BY 4.0
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Flower
Cathy Dewitt
CC BY 4.0
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Leaves & flowers in late March - Warren Co. - NC
Cathy DeWitt
CC BY 4.0
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Fruit & buds - December - Warren Co., NC
Cathy DeWitt
CC BY 4.0
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Form - March 14 - Warren Co., NC
Cathy DeWitt
CC BY 4.0
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Spring Flowers - Warren Co., NC
Cathy DeWitt
CC BY 4.0
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Spring Flowers - Warren Co., NC
Cathy DeWitt
CC BY 4.0
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Flower buds Closeup - March - Warren Co., NC
Cathy DeWitt
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
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Branch & Buds - December - Halifax Co., NC
Cathy DeWitt
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
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Branch and buds December Warren
Cathy DeWitt
CC BY-NC 4.0
Download Image
Cultivars / Varieties:
'Aristocrat'
stronger crotches, susceptible to fire blight, purple red to orange fall foliage susceptible
'Autumn Blaze'
more narrow form, cold hardy zone 4
'Bradford'
most fire blight resistant, showy flowers, tends to split with age
'Capital'
columnar, purple red to bronze fall foliage, fire blight resistant
'Chanticleer'
narrow columnar, reddish fall foliage, hardy zone 4
'Cleveland Select'
fragrant, less breakage, red, orange, purple fall color, no fruits
'Invasive'
'Redspire'
pyramidal, yellow to red fall foliage
'Whitehouse'
more narrow form
'Aristocrat', 'Autumn Blaze', 'Bradford', 'Capital', 'Chanticleer', 'Cleveland Select', 'Invasive', 'Redspire', 'Whitehouse'
Tags:
#showy flowers
#deciduous
#shade tree
#invasive
#heat tolerant
#drought tolerant
#pyramidal
#fall interest
#high maintenance
#flowering tree
#air pollution tolerant
#fast growing
#aggressive
#deer resistant
#weak wood
#fantz
#bird friendly
#malodorous
#landscape plant sleuths course
#short lived
#wildlife friendly
#weedy
#poor soil tolerant
#HS111
#HS304
#fpp
Attributes:
Genus:
Pyrus
Species:
calleryana
Family:
Rosaceae
Life Cycle:
Woody
Recommended Propagation Strategy:
Grafting
Seed
Country Or Region Of Origin:
Central to Southern China to Vietnam, Central Japan, and Taiwan
Distribution:
Native: China North-Central, China South-Central, China Southeast, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Vietnam
Introduced: United States--AL, AR, CA, DC, DE, FL, GA, KS, KY, IL, LA, MD, MI, MO, MS, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, and WV; Iraq, and West Himalaya
Wildlife Value:
The fruits attract many birds.
Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
This tree is mildly resistant to damage by deer.
Dimensions:
Height: 30 ft. 0 in. - 50 ft. 0 in.
Width: 20 ft. 0 in. - 35 ft. 0 in.
Whole Plant Traits:
Plant Type:
Perennial
Tree
Weed
Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
Deciduous
Habit/Form:
Columnar
Erect
Multi-trunked
Oval
Pyramidal
Rounded
Growth Rate:
Rapid
Maintenance:
High
Texture:
Medium
Appendage:
Thorns
Cultural Conditions:
Light:
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil Texture:
Clay
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Soil pH:
Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil Drainage:
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasionally Dry
Available Space To Plant:
24-60 feet
NC Region:
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
Fruit:
Fruit Color:
Brown/Copper
Gold/Yellow
Green
Display/Harvest Time:
Summer
Fruit Type:
Pome
Fruit Length:
< 1 inch
Fruit Width:
< 1 inch
Fruit Description:
The fruits are yellowish green to brown, round, 0.5 to 1-inch in diameter, and inedible with a brown pit. They have no practical value nor ornamental use except it attracts birds..
Flowers:
Flower Color:
Cream/Tan
White
Flower Inflorescence:
Corymb
Cyme
Flower Value To Gardener:
Showy
Flower Bloom Time:
Spring
Flower Petals:
4-5 petals/rays
Flower Size:
< 1 inch
Flower Description:
Flowering occurs in early spring from April to May. The bloom is creamy white, 0.75 to 1-inch wide, 5-petaled, showy, and malodorous. Inflorescence is a dense, 3-inch-long corymb or cyme. The flowers are pollinated by insects.
Leaves:
Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
Deciduous
Leaf Color:
Green
Leaf Feel:
Glossy
Leathery
Leaf Value To Gardener:
Showy
Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
Gold/Yellow
Orange
Purple/Lavender
Red/Burgundy
Leaf Type:
Simple
Leaf Arrangement:
Alternate
Leaf Shape:
Ovate
Leaf Margin:
Crenate
Serrate
Undulate
Hairs Present:
No
Leaf Length:
1-3 inches
Leaf Width:
1-3 inches
Leaf Description:
The leaves are glabrous, alternate, simple, ovate, acuminate, glossy, rotund to broad cuneate or subcordate or truncate, coriaceous, and have crenate and wavy margins. The upper surface is dark green, and the undersides are paler. The crenate margins are rounded to an acute base. The leaves have a reddish-purple to bronze-red fall coloration.
Bark:
Bark Color:
Light Brown
Light Gray
Red/Burgundy
Surface/Attachment:
Furrowed
Lenticels
Ridges
Bark Description:
The bark is light brown to reddish-brown or light gray and smooth. Ridged and furrowed becoming blocky with age often has tight crotches that cause problems. Young bark may have horizontal elongated lenticels.
Stem:
Stem Color:
Brown/Copper
Stem Is Aromatic:
No
Stem Buds:
Hairy
Stem Surface:
Hairy (pubescent)
Stem Description:
Flowers buds are large, ovoid, elongate, bluntly acute, have wooly grayish-brown scales, are terminal, and hairy. Twigs are stout, initially white pubescent and mature to a smooth, shiny brown. The branches maybe tipped with a thorn. The limbs are susceptible to breakage.
Landscape:
Attracts:
Pollinators
Songbirds
Resistance To Challenges:
Compaction
Deer
Drought
Heat
Pollution
Poor Soil
Urban Conditions
Problems:
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Short-lived
Weedy
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Pyrus calleryana