Callery pear (Pyrus calleryana)

Species info:

Leaves: Simple, alternate; broadly ovate with finely serrated margins. Glossy dark green in summer; fall color varies by cultivar and year, ranging from red to orange, yellow, purple, or mixed tones. Leaves often persist late into November.

Leaflets: None (simple leaf).

Leaf Surface: Smooth and glossy on the upper surface; underside smooth and slightly lighter in color.

Bark: Tan-brown on young trees, becoming gray-black-brown with age; lightly ridged to moderately furrowed on mature trunks.

Flowers: Showy white flowers approximately ½ inch in diameter; appear before or during leaf emergence. Fragrance is pungent to unpleasant.

Fruit: Hard, brown, ½-inch pome; russeted, not ornamental. Fruits may persist until softened by frost and are sometimes eaten by birds.

Botanical: Pyrus calleryana

Family: Rosaceae

Mature Height: Up to 35–40 feet, depending on cultivar

Canopy Spread: Varies widely by cultivar; typically 15–25 feet, with broader cultivars reaching 30+ feet

Foliage Type: Deciduous

Tree Shape: Ranges from oval to pyramidal to columnar, depending on cultivar

Growth Rate: Medium to fast

Flower: Showy (with noticeable odor)

Fruit: Not persistent

Fall Color: Variable by year and cultivar—can range from red to orange, yellow, and purple; color develops late in the season

Water Use: Low to moderate once established; heat- and drought-tolerant

Hardiness: Zone 4-8

Soil Preference: Adaptable to a wide range of soils including compacted urban soils; prefers well-drained conditions

Sun Exposure: Full sun

Wildlife Value: Small, hard pomes may be eaten by birds after frost softens them

Pests/Pathogens: Susceptible to fireblight on some cultivars; occasional aphids on new growth; hawthorn mealybug

Planting Recommendations: Recommended for most sites

Information Sources:

• Front Range Tree Recommendation List

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