Bradford Pear Pyrus calleryana

This plant is problematic, and alternatives should be considered.  Please see the suggestions in the left-hand column or see this video created by Charlotte Glen as part of the Plants, Pests, and Pathogens series.

Callery pear is a dense, pyramidal, ornamental, broadleaf deciduous tree that grows up to 50 feet tall and 20 to 35 feet wide. It is a very common landscape plant, most notably in the spring when the tree is full of white blossoms. It is used frequently for its rapid growth rate and tolerance to a variety of urban conditions, including drought, air pollution, and heat. The most notable cultivar is the 'Bradford Pear.'  Unfortunately, the Callery pear tree has seeded out into natural areas and has become invasive in many states. 

The Callery pear is a member of the Rosaceae or rose family and is native to portions of China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Vietnam. In the 1950s, this promising tree was introduced into the landscape in the United States. Concerns for overplanting and structural weakness of the branches began to emerge in the 1980s. Now the concerns are regarding invasiveness, escaping cultivation, and naturalization. 

The genus name, Pyrus, is Latin for pear. The epithet, calleryanna, is in honor of an Italian, Joseph M. M. Callery, who was a missionary to China and botanical collector. He brought 2,000 plants to the Paris Museum of History including this species

The Callery pear prefers full sun, moist, well-drained, loamy soils. It is soil adaptable, urban tolerant, drought tolerant, transplants easily, and can grow in partial shade. Pruning is required to improve strength and structure of the tree. 

The Callery pear is one of the first trees to bloom in the spring and is covered profusely with white flowers. The blooms at peak, unfortunately smell like a decaying animal. Many people encountering this odor will wrinkle their nose and begin to look around on the ground. The branches grow at upright angles with weak crotches that break with age, wind, and ice. Each tree lasts only 10 to 20 years.  It is also considered an invasive species in the southeastern United States. Fruit is non-ornamental and hidden by the foliage. In the fall, this tree gives off colorful variable foliage.

The cultivar 'Bradford' has strongly ascending branches and is narrower than typical selections of Callery pear. It also develops tight crotches that are likely to be split in half by heavy wind and rainstorms. Leaves are suborbicular as L/W ratio is nearly 1. Typical members of Callery pears have more spreading branches and some leaves with L/W ratios near 2. 'Bradford' is regarded as relatively pest and disease free, whereas the species is very susceptible to fire blight. A study was reported of an experiment on the North Carolina State University campus, where 6 'Bradford' trees were inoculated with the organism that causes fire blight. Each tree developed fire blight; thus, the conclusion was that 'Bradford' was not resistant. However, all 6 trees existing on the campus at that time were misidentified Callery pears, not a 'Bradford' cultivar. 

This plant is used as a temporary specimen tree for 10 to 20 years in residential sites, commercial sites, school grounds, and malls. During peak bloom, some customers have been observed at mall parking lots, getting out of their cars, reacting to the odor, getting back in their cars, and driving off.

Considering the invasiveness of this species, it would be preferable to select and alternative native flowering shade tree such as the Eastern Redbud, Flowering Dogwood, Common Serviceberry, or American Plum for the home landscape.

Seasons of Interest:

Bloom:  Spring                      Foliage:  Summer and Fall

Quick ID Hints:

• bark is light brown to reddish-brown to light gray, smooth, ridged and furrowed with age with tight crotches, young bark may have horizontal elongated lenticels.
• twigs are stout, initially white pubescent, and mature to a smooth, shiny brown, branches maybe tipped with a thorn.
• buds are elongate, wooly, and gray-pubescent
• leaves are dark green on the upper surface and pale beneath, glabrous, alternate, simple, ovate, glossy with crenate and wavy margins
• bloom is creamy white, 0.75 to 1-inch wide, 5-petaled, showy, and malodorous, arranged in a dense corymb or cyme. 
• fruits are yellowish green to brown, round, 0.5 to 1-inch in diameter

Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems:  The Callery pear is mostly insect or pest free, but potential insects may include aphids, scales, or borers. It can be affected by fire blight. The Callery pear has too many upright branches that grow too close together on the trunk. Limb breakage is common due to poor crotch angles, and it is often a very short-lived tree. This tree sustains structural damage frequently from wind or ice and snowstorms. This is a weedy to invasive species, that can spread fire blight to other Rosaceous crops, so consider planting a different tree.

VIDEO Created by Homegrown featuring Jeana Myers, Horticulture Extension Agent for NC State Extension