Ussurian pear (Pyrus ussuriensis)

First place champion Scotch pine in Fort Collins at City Park.

Species info:

Leaves: Glossy green throughout summer; oval with fine serrations. Fall color transitions to reddish-purple.

Leaflets: N/A (simple leaves)

Leaf Surface: Smooth and shiny above; lighter beneath.

Bark: Gray-brown, developing shallow fissures with age.

Flowers: Pink fading to white; slightly larger than 1 inch in diameter; appear in April–May before full leaf-out; showy and abundant in mature trees (after ~10 years).

Fruit: Small, greenish-yellow, hard, and very grainy; not typically edible

Botanical: Pyrus ussuriensis

Family: Rosaceae

Mature Height: 25–35 feet

Canopy Spread: 25–35 feet

Foliage Type: Deciduous

Tree Shape: Dense, rounded crown with uniform branching

Flowers: Showy clusters, pink turning white, fragrant

Fruit: Not typically edible

Fall Color: Reddish-purple

Water Use: Low to moderate; adaptable once established

Hardiness: Zone 3B — the hardiest of all pear species

Soil Preference: Prefers well-drained loam; tolerates cold climates better than most ornamental pears

Wildlife Value: Fruit occasionally eaten by birds and small mammals

Insects and Diseases: Least susceptible of all pears to fireblight; generally disease resistant

Colorado Suitability: Suitable for colder regions and higher elevations; best as an ornamental tree for early spring bloom and reliable cold tolerance

Planting recommendation: Recommended for most sites; considered more cold hardy than P. calleryana

Information Sources:

• Michael Dirr, Manual of Woody Landscape Plants (University of Georgia, 1990)

• Michigan State University Extension, Colorado State University Extension.