Callery Pear ('Bradford')
Pyrus calleryana
Callery Pear ('Bradford') (Pyrus calleryana) is a tree suited to the Colorado Front Range, rated "Not Recommended" on the 2024 Front Range Tree Recommendation List. It matures to about 30 to 50 ft tall and 20 to 35 ft wide, fast-growing, needs medium water, and prefers full sun. Callery pear is invasive in many regions and structurally weak, suckers, splits, and reseeds prolifically. Do not plant.
medium water30 to 50 ft tall and 20 to 35 ft wide
Photos
- Photo 1: Bruce Marlin
- Photo 2: "Pyrus calleryana" by Bruce Marlin is licensed under CC BY 3.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/.
- Photo 3: (c) Jacy Chen, some rights reserved (CC BY)
- Photo 4: (c) Jacy Chen, some rights reserved (CC BY)
- Photo 5: (c) Benjamin Smith, some rights reserved (CC BY)
- Photo 6: (c) Philmarin, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
At a glance
Will it survive here?
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 5 to 9
- Water needs
- medium water
- Sun
- Best in full sun.
- Soil
- clay, loam, sandy
- Soil pH
- 6.0 to 8.2
- Hail tolerance
- moderate
- Wind tolerance
- moderate
- Salt tolerance
- high
How big, what shape?
- Mature size
- 30 to 50 ft tall and 20 to 35 ft wide
- Mature form
- Pyramidal
- Spacing / clearance
- ~35 ft of clearance
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Lifespan
- Short-lived
What it looks like, and when
- Bloom time
- mid spring
- Bloom color
- white
- Fall color
- Red, purple, orange
- Foliage
- Deciduous
Who else benefits
- Pollinator value
- high
- Deer
- Not rated
- Colorado native
- No
Also worth knowing
- Fire rating
- Not rated
Site factors to consider
- Critical: Cold HardinessThe real knock is not cold; Callery pear splits apart in storms as it ages and reseeds into wild land, so most agencies now steer away from it.
- Watch: Short LivedFast but not forever; this one runs short lived here, so enjoy it and plan a successor rather than treating it as a legacy tree.
- Watch: SuckersIt throws up shoots from the roots and base, so plan on cutting suckers to keep it from turning into a thicket.
Common problems on the Front Range
- Fireblight (bacterial)
These are general tendencies for this group of plants on the Front Range, not a diagnosis. Many are stress-driven and preventable with good siting and watering. For a specific plant or an active problem, consult a certified arborist or your local CSU Extension office.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Callery Pear ('Bradford') good for the Colorado Front Range?
- Yes, Callery Pear ('Bradford') is a well-suited tree for Colorado's Front Range, rated "Not Recommended" on the 2024 Front Range Tree Recommendation List.
- Why is Callery Pear ('Bradford') not recommended on the Front Range?
- The main catches here: The real knock is not cold; Callery pear splits apart in storms as it ages and reseeds into wild land, so most agencies now steer away from it.
- How big does Callery Pear ('Bradford') get?
- It matures to about 30 to 50 ft tall and 20 to 35 ft wide.
- How much room does Callery Pear ('Bradford') need?
- Give Callery Pear ('Bradford') about 35 ft of clearance from buildings, fences, and other trees so the mature canopy isn't crowded.
- What shape does Callery Pear ('Bradford') grow into?
- Callery Pear ('Bradford') typically grows into a pyramidal, conical outline that is widest at the base. This is the species' usual mature form, named cultivars (columnar, weeping, or compact selections) can differ, so check the specific cultivar.
- Is Callery Pear ('Bradford') hardy on the Front Range?
- Callery Pear ('Bradford') is hardy in USDA 5 to 9. The Colorado Front Range spans roughly USDA 4b to 6a, so it is at its cold edge here. Site it in a warm microclimate and protect young plants. That said, it carries a cold-hardiness caution: The real knock is not cold; Callery pear splits apart in storms as it ages and reseeds into wild land, so most agencies now steer away from it.
- How much water does Callery Pear ('Bradford') need?
- It needs medium water once established.
- How fast does Callery Pear ('Bradford') grow?
- Callery Pear ('Bradford') is a fast-growing tree. Growth rate depends on water and site conditions on the Front Range.
- How long does Callery Pear ('Bradford') live?
- Callery Pear ('Bradford') is relatively short-lived for a tree, so plan to replace it sooner than a long-lived shade tree. Actual lifespan varies with site, water, and care.
- What color does Callery Pear ('Bradford') turn in fall?
- Callery Pear ('Bradford') turns red, purple, and orange in autumn. Fall color intensity varies with the season and site on the Front Range.
- Is Callery Pear ('Bradford') native to Colorado?
- No. It is not a Colorado native, but it grows well on the Front Range.
- Is Callery Pear ('Bradford') prone to pests or disease on the Front Range?
- Callery Pear ('Bradford') can be affected by fireblight (bacterial). These are general tendencies, not a diagnosis, many are stress-driven and preventable with good siting and watering. For a specific plant or an active problem, consult a certified arborist or CSU Extension.
