6 named cultivars

tree

Callery Pear

Pyrus calleryana

The Story

Plant Bio

Pyrus calleryana, Callery or Bradford pear, is a fast-growing deciduous tree from China, Vietnam, Japan and Taiwan, reaching 30 to 50 ft tall and 20 to 35 ft wide. Habit varies from columnar to broadly rounded, often multi-trunked. White five-petalled flowers smother the bare branches in early spring, before the glossy leaves expand.

The early blossom carries a distinctly unpleasant smell, and the small hard fruits are inedible to people but eagerly taken by birds. That bird dispersal, combined with cross-pollination between cultivars, has produced thorny wild seedlings that now invade fields and roadsides across the eastern United States. Narrow branch unions also split in storms.

Uses & Benefits:

A dense sheet of white blossom in very early spring, followed by glossy foliage and reliable late red-purple autumn colour.

Extremely tolerant of compaction, drought, heat, pollution and poor soil, which is why it was planted so widely.

Birds eat the fruit, but that same dispersal drives its invasion of open ground at the expense of native trees.

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Tree

Height

360 inches

Width

330 inches

Light

Full Sun

Zones

5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Water

Low; drought and heat tolerant once established

Humidity

Adaptable to most conditions

Lifespan

Short for a tree; often 20 to 25 years before splitting

Native To

China, Vietnam, Japan and Taiwan

Toxicity

No significant toxicity reported; fruit is inedible

Planting

How to Grow

Check state and local law first; sale is banned in several states.
Prefer a native flowering tree such as serviceberry where possible.
If planting an existing tree, choose full sun and any drained soil.
Set the root ball level with grade and stake only if exposed.
Prune young trees to widen narrow branch angles and reduce splitting.
Remove thorny seedlings and root suckers as soon as they appear.

Pro Tip

The tight upright branch unions are the reason mature trees split in storms; wide-angled scaffolds must be selected in the first five years.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Check local invasive listings and bans before buying 📋
Choose a native alternative for new planting 🌱
Prune young trees for wide branch angles ✂️
Remove thorny wild seedlings from field edges 🧤

Don't

Do not plant new Callery pears where they are listed as invasive ❌
Do not top a storm-damaged tree; regrowth is weaker still ❌
Do not expect the fruit to be edible; it is not ❌

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Seedling Removal
Structural Pruning

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Existing street and car park tree in hard urban conditionsEarly spring blossom in a tolerant, low-fertility siteScreening on compacted or polluted ground

Companion Plants

Serviceberry Eastern redbud Flowering dogwood American hornbeam Fringe tree

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Callery Pear questions

What zones can Callery Pear grow in?

Callery Pear is hardy in USDA Zones 5–9. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

Is Callery Pear deer resistant?

Not reliably. Deer may browse Callery Pear, especially tender spring growth — plan on repellents or fencing where pressure is high.

When does Callery Pear bloom?

Callery Pear typically blooms in early spring, before the leaves through mid-spring. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Does Callery Pear need full sun?

Callery Pear does best in full sun (6+ hours).

Is Callery Pear drought tolerant?

Yes — once established (usually after the first full season), Callery Pear handles dry spells with minimal watering. Water deeply its first year to build the root system that makes that possible.