Ornamental pears are grown for their profuse late-winter or early-spring show of white flowers and their lustrous leaves. Not at their best in shallow soils, they’re otherwise unfussy, even growing well in heavy clay. Most are subject to fireblight. Fruiting pears are described under Pear, Asian and Pear, European.Pyrus calleryana
This deciduous tree grows to 50 ft. tall and wide, with a strong horizontal branching pattern; young growth is thorny. Broadly oval, scallop-edged, leathery, 1/2–3-in.-long leaves are glossy dark green, turning rich purplish red in fall. Blooms very early; late freezes may destroy flower crop. Very small, round, inedible fruit. Less susceptible to fireblight than most pears.‘Autumn Blaze’
Rounded form to 30 ft. tall and 25 ft. wide. Hardiest of the callery pears. Crimson fall color develops early.‘Bradford’
This is the original P. calleryana variety. Pyramidal to 50 ft. tall and 35 ft. wide. Strongly vertical limbs have no central leader. Very impressive for 15 to 20 years; then branches become congested, the tree spreads, and tight branch crotches tend to split. Better choices are ‘Aristocrat’, ‘Chanticleer’, ‘New Bradford’, and ‘Redspire’.‘Chanticleer’ (‘Cleveland Select’, ‘Glen’s Form’, ‘Stone Hill’)
Most plants sold under this name are narrowly pyramidal in form; some are more columnar. Grows to 40 ft. tall and 15 ft. wide. Fall color varies from orange to reddish purple.
Oval shape to 15 ft. tall and 10 ft. wide, with white flowers and dark green leaves that turn yellow in fall.
This deciduous tree grows to 50 ft. tall and wide, with a strong horizontal branching pattern; young g...
Up to six trumpet-shaped, very fragrant white flowers on each stem; plants are about 3 ft. tall. Usual...
Native to China and Japan. Erect growth to 2 ft. tall and 1 1/2 ft. wide. One of the few ferns with se...