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  • A cluster of several white flowers with five petals, on the end of a spiky twig.
    Cluster of callery pear flowers at a branch tip.
  • A group of trees along the edge of a field. Most trees have no leaves, there is one tree with white flowers.
    Callery pear bloom early before leaf-out.
  • A group of trees along the edge of a field. It is early in the spring, most of the trees have no leaves; there are scattered trees with white flowers.
    Several blooming callery pear in a forested edge.
  • A close-up image of twigs with dark green leaves. In the middle of the image are several brown, round fruits with white specks on them.
    Leaf and fruit of callery pear.
  • An image of a branch with short, spiky twigs. Each twig has several leaves emerging. In the background is more trees.
    Callery pear twig.

Common names: Callery pear
Scientific name: Pyrus calleryana Decne.


Legal status

Specially Regulated

Three-year production phase-out period, after which sale of this species will be prohibited and the species will be designated as restricted in 2026.

Background

Callery pear is a common ornamental and landscape species native to Asia, occurring in southern China, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan. It was originally introduced in Maryland in the early 1900s as a source of rootstock for domestic pear trees to help address issues with fire blight.

Description

  • A small deciduous tree, it can grow up to 60 feet in height and 2 feet in diameter, though that size is rare. Callery pear trees grow quickly and typically don’t have time to develop strong structure. They are often susceptible to ice and storm damage and split easily.
  • Alternate branching arrangement with simple leaves. Leaves are 2-3 inches in length, rounded to teardrop-shaped, and have distinctly wavy margins with fine teeth. Branches and stems can have very thorny spur shoots. Foliage is often brilliantly colored in autumn, though foliage turns color late so trees are sometimes hit with frost before displaying fall foliage.
  • Bark is greyish to brown. It is smooth on younger stems and branches, growing deeply fissured or scaly as it ages.
  • Trees in bloom stand out, as they bloom early, before leaf-out. The dense clusters of blossoms produce a strong rancid odor. Flowers are white with five petals.
  • Fruits are tiny, ½ inch in diameter, hard pears. Fruits are green to brown in color with pale dots, almost woody, and become soft only after the first frost.

Habitat

Callery pear is found in a variety of habitats. It is commonly found along roadsides, in old fields, hedgerows, and forest edges, but has also been found in wetlands and forests. These trees prefer full sun but has also been found in partially shaded habitat. Because of their tolerance of a variety of soil types, soil acidity, pollution, and drainage levels, they are a popular urban tree.

Means of spread and distribution

Originally, callery pear cultivars were bred to produce sterile fruit. In the landscape, cross-pollination between species occurred, leading to fertile fruit development. Wild individuals can interbreed and produce even more viable seed. The most well-known cultivar is the Bradford pear. 

Callery pear produces a large amount of fruit, which is readily eaten by birds once the pears soften after the first frost. Seeds are then widely dispersed by through birds' droppings. Callery pear can also spread vegetatively by sending up new shoots from shallow root systems.

Callery pear has been reported in 38 states and is mainly distributed throughout the eastern, southern, and midwestern United States.    

Impact

Callery pear is a rapid-growing tree that poses a major threat to native grasslands and their wildlife. It can quickly fill gaps in open spaces, leading to native plants being crowded out as they cannot compete for resources. Birds are attracted to the fruits once they soften enough to eat and can act as hosts for other problematic species like European starlings.

Prevention and management

  • Regular maintenance programs are recommended, as these are very tenacious invaders and will reinvade areas it has been removed from if a seed source remains nearby.
  • Small callery pear trees may be pulled by hand, taking care to remove all roots. Even small portions of root fragments often resprout.
  • Cutting and mowing are effective at reducing growth and providing access to overgrown sites. For these methods to be effective, herbicide applications must be followed as either a cut-stump treatment or a foliar treatment to resprouting plants.
  • For specific herbicide recommendations, contact your University of Minnesota Regional Extension Educator.
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