Bradford Pear

Bradford pear is the best-known cultivar of Callery pear (Pyrus calleryana), a deciduous flowering tree introduced from China that became one of the most planted street trees of the late 20th century. It offers profuse white spring bloom, glossy summer leaves, and reliable red-purple fall color.

Despite its ornamental appeal, 'Bradford' has fallen out of favor: its tight branch crotches make it structurally weak and prone to splitting in storms, and cross-pollination among cultivars has produced thorny, fast-spreading wild seedlings. Callery pear is now listed as invasive and banned for sale in several U.S. states.

• Habit: Dense, symmetrical teardrop to oval crown, 25-40 ft tall, often with narrow weak branch angles.
• Flowers: Abundant 5-petaled white blossoms in early spring, with a notably unpleasant odor.
• Leaves: Glossy, rounded with wavy margins, dark green turning red to purple in fall.
• Fruit: Tiny (under 1/2 in) hard brown pomes, eaten and spread by birds.
• Wild seedlings: Often bear sharp thorns, unlike the cultivar.

Light: Full sun.

Water: Weekly when young; quite drought-tolerant once established.

Soil: Adapts to almost any soil, including clay and poor urban sites.

Temperature: Hardy USDA zones 5-9.

Feeding: Rarely needed; it grows vigorously on its own.

Note: Because of weak structure and invasiveness, planting is discouraged. Where present, structural pruning of young trees reduces storm breakage. Many regions now recommend removal and replacement with native alternatives such as serviceberry or dogwood.

Callery pear is native to China and Vietnam. It was introduced to the United States in the early 20th century, originally for pear rootstock and fire-blight research, and 'Bradford' was released as an ornamental in the 1960s.

It has since escaped cultivation across much of the eastern and central U.S., forming dense thorny thickets in fields, roadsides and disturbed land, displacing native vegetation.

Historically planted as a fast, tidy ornamental and street tree for spring flowers and fall color. That use is now widely discouraged.

It has no culinary value (fruit is tiny and hard), and its ecological impact is negative: it crowds out native plants and provides little wildlife benefit beyond birds spreading its seed. Several states sponsor 'bounty' programs encouraging homeowners to cut it down.