Bradford Pear
Pyrus calleryana · Deciduous Broadleaf Hardwood
Plant Family
Rosaceae
Tree Category
Ornamental and Street Tree
Variety / Cultivar
'Bradford', known for its dense, symmetrical, teardrop shape and heavy spring flowering.
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 5 through 9.
About This Tree
A small to medium-sized deciduous tree with a dense, rounded to pyramidal crown, featuring showy white spring blossoms and small, hard, woody fruits.
Leaf Characteristics
Alternate, simple, broadly ovate to nearly round, 2 to 3 inches long, glossy dark green with finely crenate-serrate margins, turning brilliant shades of red, purple, and orange in autumn.
Bark Characteristics
Grayish-brown, smooth when young, developing shallow vertical fissures and ridges with age.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to China and Vietnam; widely planted as an ornamental across North America.
Growing Season
Spring brings heavy white blooms, followed by glossy green leaves in summer, brilliant red to purple foliage in fall, and dormancy through winter.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Thrives in full sun with moderate water needs once established; highly adaptable to various soil types and urban conditions.
Mature Size
Reaches 30 to 50 feet in height with a 20 to 35 feet spread; fast growth rate with a relatively short lifespan of 15 to 25 years due to weak branch attachments.
Special Characteristics
Highly tolerant of urban pollution, compacted soils, and drought, though notorious for weak branching structures susceptible to storm damage and aggressive spreading in some regions.
Wildlife & Ecology
Provides limited nesting cover for birds; small fruits are eaten by birds which then spread the seeds, often making it invasive in natural areas.