Callery Pear Cultivar Review

Probably few cultivar sets spawn such emotion in community forestry as the Callery pears (Pyrus calleryana). These ornamental pears are widely planted, widely offered for sale, and the center for both positive and negative planting and management interests. The Bradford cultivar is especially loved and hated for its values and faults. As there are more types of ice cream than just vanilla, there are more Callery pear cultivars than Bradford. Each cultivar shares wind dancing foliage, rich colored summer leaves, red to burgundy colors of Fall, and brilliant white blooms of Spring. The Callery pear cultivars (and close associates) vary by their mature height, tendency to break under wind loads, and associated pest problems. Fire blight, a bacterial disease, is especially prevalent and disfiguring in some cultivars. This review list was designed to point out some of the most common cultivars and their basic landscape attributes.

This publication is for educational purposes and does not represent all cultivars sharing similar attributes.  Inclusion or exclusion of any particular cultivar is based solely upon availability of information, and does not represent an endorsement or a question of usability in any landscape. All attributes listed are a summary composite from many different sources. Because the information base could not be warranted against errors and omissions, this publication which is based upon composite information cannot be warranted for the accuracy of any information listed.

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