Pear, Bradford Pear, or Callery Pear (Pyrus calleryana)
Kingdom: Plantae, Division: Tracheophyta, Class: Magnoliopsida, Order: Rosales, Family: Rosaceae, Genus: Pyrus, Species: P. calleryana · Rosaceae (Rose family) · Simple leaf, deciduous
Species
Pyrus calleryana
Leaf Type
Simple leaf, deciduous
Family
Rosaceae (Rose family)
Shape
Broadly ovate to nearly orbicular with a rounded or slightly cordate base and acute tip
Size
Approximately 2 to 3 inches long and nearly as wide, typical for a mature Callery pear leaf
Margin
Crenate to finely serrate with rounded teeth
Arrangement
Alternate
Rarity
Very Common (frequently abundant as an invasive weed tree across its introduced range)
Color & Pattern
Medium to dark green on the upper surface with a glossy sheen, paler underneath. Exhibiting typical summer coloration.
Venation Pattern
Pinnate venation with a prominent central midrib and ascending lateral veins
Texture & Surface
Glabrous (smooth) and somewhat leathery with a glossy upper surface
Description
A medium-sized deciduous tree known for its dense, symmetrical oval crown, prolific white spring blossoms that emit a distinct scent, glossy green summer foliage, and vibrant reddish-purple autumn colors. The bark is typically gray-brown and becomes fissured with age.
Key Features
Glossy, somewhat leathery, broadly ovate leaves with rounded teeth, wavy margins, smooth petioles, and brilliant fall color. Often accompanied by a pyramidal growth habit in landscape trees
Habitat
Found in disturbed areas, roadsides, old fields, and forest edges; highly adaptable to various soil types and moisture levels, tolerating pollution and urban conditions
Geographic Range
Native to China and Vietnam; introduced to North America as an ornamental and now widely considered an invasive species across much of the eastern and midwestern United States
Condition Notes
Good condition with minor natural blemishes and insect feeding holes, representing a healthy mature summer leaf
Interesting Facts
Originally introduced to combat fire blight in commercial fruit pears, it became immensely popular as a sterile street tree before cross-pollination caused it to become aggressively invasive
Medicinal & Uses
Primarily used as an ornamental landscape tree and rootstock for other pear varieties; wood is sometimes used in woodworking, though the tree itself is mostly regarded as a pest today
Ecological Role
Provides early spring nectar for pollinators and fruit for birds, but its aggressive thickets displace native plant species and disrupt natural forest ecosystems
Similar Species
Can be confused with other pear species (Pyrus) or wild apples (Malus), distinguished by the very glossy, smooth, wavy-margined leaves of the Callery pear
Foraging Tips
Look for dense thickets along highway medians, forest edges, and abandoned lots where invasive Callery pears aggressively colonize open land
Toxicity Warning
Non-toxic (the fruits are astringent and unpalatable to humans, but non-poisonous)