Callery Pear
Pyrus calleryana · Deciduous, Broadleaf, Invasive
Plant Family
Rosaceae
Tree Category
Ornamental / Street Tree
Variety / Cultivar
Likely 'Bradford' or 'Aristocrat'
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 5 through 9
About This Tree
Medium-sized deciduous tree with a tight, symmetrical, often pyramidal or egg-shaped crown. Known for prolific white spring blooms and poor branch architecture that leads to splitting under heavy wind or ice.
Leaf Characteristics
Simple, alternate, ovate leaves; 1.5 to 3 inches long; glossy dark green in summer turning brilliant red, purple, or bronze in late autumn; margins are finely serrated.
Bark Characteristics
Gray-brown and smooth when young, becoming deeply furrowed, ridged, and corky/scaly with age as seen in the photograph.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to China and Vietnam; widely naturalized and invasive in North America
Growing Season
Early spring flowering (March-April), leaves out shortly after; enters dormancy in late autumn with late leaf drop.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun; moderate water needs; highly adaptable to various soil types including clay; moderate drought tolerance once established.
Mature Size
30-50 feet tall, 20-35 feet spread; fast growth rate; relatively short lifespan due to structural failures (25-30 years).
Special Characteristics
Foul-smelling flowers often compared to rotting fish; high resistance to fire blight but prone to storm damage due to steep branch crotch angles; highly invasive in many US states.
Wildlife & Ecology
Provides early nectar for pollinators; small hard fruits (pomes) are eaten and dispersed by birds (like starlings), contributing to its rapid spread into wild ecosystems where it outcompetes native flora.