Willow-leaved Pear
Pyrus salicifolia · Deciduous, Broadleaf, Hardwood, Ornamental
Plant Family
Rosaceae
Tree Category
Ornamental, Shade Tree, Street Tree, Flowering
Variety / Cultivar
Pendula (Weeping Willow-leaved Pear), noted for its graceful, weeping branches and silvery foliage.
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 4 through 8, demonstrating good cold hardiness and adaptability to urban pollution and maritime exposure.
About This Tree
A small to medium-sized deciduous tree with a picturesque, often crooked trunk and a dense, rounded, or weeping crown. It features gracefully arching branches, silvery-grey foliage that gives it a distinct willow-like appearance, small white spring flowers, and small, hard, pear-shaped fruits.
Leaf Characteristics
Simple, narrow, lanceolate leaves, measuring about 5 to 9 cm long and 1 cm wide. They have smooth margins, alternate arrangement, and are covered in fine silvery hairs when young, maturing to a grey-green color.
Bark Characteristics
Dark grey to brown bark, becoming rough, deeply furrowed, and ridged with age, developing a gnarled and characterful texture on older trunks.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to the Caucasus, southwestern Asia, and parts of the Middle East; widely cultivated in European gardens and urban areas.
Growing Season
Leafs out in early spring with silvery-grey foliage, followed by a profusion of small white flowers in mid-spring. Foliage remains silvery through summer, turning yellow in autumn before dropping for winter dormancy.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Thrives in full sun for best leaf color and flowering. Prefers moderate watering during establishment but is quite drought-tolerant once mature. Adapts well to various well-drained soil types.
Mature Size
Reaches a mature height of 4 to 8 meters with an equal or greater spread of 4 to 8 meters. Growth rate is slow to moderate, with a typical lifespan of 50 to 80 years.
Special Characteristics
Highly valued for its striking silvery, drought-tolerant foliage that provides a Mediterranean feel. Excellent resistance to urban pollution, good wind tolerance, and provides pleasant spring blooms.
Wildlife & Ecology
Flowers provide early-season nectar and pollen for bees and other beneficial pollinators. Small fruits may occasionally be consumed by birds and small mammals, while the dense branching offers secure nesting sites.