Callery Pear (Pyrus calleryana)

Key Identification Features

Description

Callery Pear is a showy, deciduous tree that grows between 30 and 50 feet tall and 20 to 30 feet wide. Young trees may have thorns. The flowers are produced in early spring before the leaves, with 5 white petals and reaching about 1 inch across. The 1.5 to 3 inch leaves are simple and alternate along the stem. They are ovate to broad-ovate with small, round toothed margins. They are dark green and shiny for the warm season, before turning purplish in the fall. When the fruit is produced in the fall, they are brown, hard and small.

Native Range

Callery Pear originates from China and Vietnam. It arrived in the early 1900’s as a potential solution to the fire blight situation that common pear was experiencing. Its ornamental value was discovered later in the century.

Habitat and Dispersion

This tree grows best in full sunlight, but it can tolerate some shade. It is also resistant to occasional dry or wet soils. Callery Pear does well in urban environments where soil quality is poor. They spread via seed dispersal by birds.

Best Management Practices

The most important management practice includes not planting this invasive species, or any of its cultivars. Choose native alternatives. For small saplings, they can be manually removed when the soil is moist. For larger trees, they should be cut down and the stumps should be treated with herbicide.

Additional Resources