Callery Pear
Pyrus calleryana · Deciduous broadleaf hardwood
Plant Family
Rosaceae
Tree Category
Ornamental / Invasive / Flowering Tree
Variety / Cultivar
Wild type or escaped hybrid (often derived from cultivars like 'Bradford' or 'Cleveland Select')
Hardiness Zones
Thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 5 through 9
About This Tree
A small to medium-sized deciduous tree with a dense, upright to rounded crown, glossy foliage, abundant small round fruits, and a tendency to form dense thickets when escaped from cultivation
Leaf Characteristics
Simple, alternate leaves, ovate to nearly round, 2 to 3 inches long, glossy dark green above, paler beneath, with finely crenate-serrate margins and smooth leathery texture
Bark Characteristics
Grayish-brown bark that becomes increasingly furrowed and ridged with scaly plates as the tree matures
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to China and Vietnam; widely planted as an ornamental across North America where it has become invasive
Growing Season
Spring-flowering with prolific white blossoms, leafing out early in spring, retaining glossy green leaves through summer, developing vibrant red/purple fall color before entering winter dormancy
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun for best flowering and form; adapts well to a wide range of soil moisture conditions from moderate moisture to drought once established
Mature Size
Typically reaches 30 to 50 feet in height with a spread of 20 to 35 feet; fast growth rate with a moderate lifespan
Special Characteristics
Highly adaptable to urban pollution, poor soils, and compaction; notable for brilliant fall foliage colors ranging from red to purple, but widely recognized as an invasive environmental weed
Wildlife & Ecology
Provides nesting cover for birds and produces small pome fruits consumed by various bird species and mammals, though its invasive spread disrupts native plant communities