Callery Pear (Commonly known as Bradford Pear or Wild Callery Pear)
Pyrus calleryana · Deciduous, Broadleaf, Invasive
Plant Family
Rosaceae
Tree Category
Ornamental / Invasive Street Tree
Variety / Cultivar
Wild/Naturalized (Seedling of 'Bradford' or other cultivars)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 5 through 9
About This Tree
An upright, fast-growing deciduous tree with a dense, often rounded or pyramidal crown. This specific specimen exhibits the thorny 'wild' form characteristic of naturalized seedlings. It produces prolific white flowers in spring and small, hard, round pome fruits.
Leaf Characteristics
Simple, alternate arrangement; ovate to broadly ovate shape, 1.5 to 3 inches long; glossy dark green in summer, turning bright red, mahogany, or purple in late fall; crenate to finely serrated margins; wavy texture.
Bark Characteristics
Smooth and light gray-brown on young trees (as seen in image), becoming deeply furrowed, ridged, and grayish-brown with age; features prominent lenticels on younger stems.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to China and Vietnam; widely naturalized and invasive in the Eastern and Midwestern United States
Growing Season
Leafs out and flowers in early spring (March-April); fruits in summer/fall; enters dormancy late autumn; retains leaves longer than most natives
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun is preferred; highly adaptable to various moisture levels; very drought tolerant once established; tolerates poor, compacted soils and urban pollution.
Mature Size
Typically reaches 30-50 feet in height with a 20-35 foot spread; fast growth rate; relatively short-lived (15-25 years) due to brittle wood and poor branch structure.
Special Characteristics
Equipped with sharp spur-like thorns in its wild-type form; known for an unpleasant flower odor (likened to rotting fish); high pollution tolerance; notorious for weak crotch angles that lead to structural failure during wind or ice storms.
Wildlife & Ecology
Provides early spring nectar for generalist pollinators; small fruits are eaten and dispersed by birds (such as starlings); however, it is ecologically damaging as it outcompetes native species and forms dense monocultures.