Pyrus calleryana

Native range: China, Taiwan, Japan, Vietnam Height: 10-15 m Width: 7-10 m Flowering: Spring Fruiting: Summer to autumn Light: Full sun to semi-shade Growth rate: Moderate to fast Benefits: Callery Pear (Pyrus calleryana) is a highly attractive small to medium-sized deciduous tree with plentiful white blossoms in spring, glossy dark green leaves, and excellent red autumn leaf colour. It is hardy and drought tolerant, can provide deep shade and will grow in a wide range of soils and conditions. Ideal for ornamental and street plantings, this species can be used in small and large areas. There are many commercial cultivars of Callery Pear, with different forms, from narrow and columnar to broad spreading canopies, with different environmental tolerances. The timber is pale pink to brown, hard with a fine, even grain. Used for furniture, fine cabinetry, instrument making, veneer and inlay work, craft wood and wood turning. Callery Pear can be used as woodstock for grafting fruiting pears and Nashi, and for smoking meats. Drawbacks: Pyrus calleryana has become a weedy species in the USA and has some potential to become weedy in south-eastern Australia, especially in permanently damp locations. Several factors can drive the establishment of weedy Pyrus: Cultivars are self-sterile, but if growing with another cultivar or pear species, cross-pollination can lead to fruit production when insects can move between plants. The small fruits are inedible to humans but attractive to birds, which eat and distribute the seeds across the landscape. Seeds that germinate develop into wild-type plants with poor form and thorns. They can form thickets and have broader ecological tolerances, allowing them to inhabit new regions. Be sure to check for and control weedy emergences of this species. Avoid planting different cultivars together, or planting near other pear species. The flowers of Pyrus calleryana can have an unpleasant scent, especially if planted closely in a small area. Some cultivars such as ‘Bradford’ have weak branch unions which break in high winds without corrective pruning. Suckering from rootstock can occur in stressed plants. Uses: Ornamental and landscaping use in parklands and gardens Shade tree Specialty timber used in cabinetry and fine craft items Wood for meat smoking Timber for firewood Propagation: None. Only purchase cultivars from approved suppliers. Weed risk: Medium to high References Culley, T.M., Hardiman, N.A., The Beginning of a New Invasive Plant: A History of the Ornamental Callery Pear in the United States, BioScience, Volume 57, Issue 11, December 2007 – https://shorturl.at/oCSY4 Callery Pear - Penn State Extention – https://extension.psu.edu/callery-pear GBIF: The Global Biodiversity Information Facility (2022) – https://www.gbif.org/species/5363119 The Flora of China Online – https://shorturl.at/oTU57 The Wood Database – Pear – https://www.wood-database.com/pear/ University of Florida Extension – Bradford Pear –https://shorturl.at/aeuE6