Pyrus calleryana
'Bradford'
Bradford Callery Pear
"
Visually appealing tree in the summer and autumn months and especially adaptable to many different soils, but its biggest downfall is the weak crotches. It has outstanding bloom and autumn colour but since its is weak-wooded, I would recommend other cultivars.
"
Family |
Rosaceae |
Genus |
Pyrus |
Species |
calleryana |
Cultivar |
'Bradford' |
Category |
Woody |
Type |
Tree (deciduous) |
Pronunciation |
USDA Hardiness Zone |
5–8 |
Canadian Hardiness Zone |
6b |
Height |
9-15 m |
Spread |
6 m |
General Description |
‘Bradford’ is the original Callery Pear and has inferior branching habit when compared to other cultivars. It has many vertical limbs with embedded bark packed closely on the trunk. The crown is dense and the branches long and not tapered. |
Cultivation |
Very adaptable to many different soils; tolerates dryness, pollution, but should be sited in full sun. |
Shape |
Moderately conical to pyridmidal in youth but broadening with age. |
Growth |
Fast |
ID Characteristic |
Prone to twig breaks, since the wood is quite weak.Showy white flowers in spring and small rounded fruit in late summer is spectacular and is one of the top trees of its class. |
Pests |
Variable resistance to fireblight which is so troublesome to the common Pear, (Pyrus). Basically free of pests. |
Habitat |
Horticultural origin. |
Bark/Stem Description |
Lustrous brown in youth, lightly ridged and furrowed and gray-brown at maturity. |
Flower/Leaf Bud Description |
Large terminal and laterals of approximately same size, ovoid, elongated, 1.2 cm long, intensely woolly, dirty gray to gray-brown. |
Leaf Description |
Dark green, alternate, simple, broad ovate to ovate, to 7 cm long, about as wide, rarely elliptic ovate, short acuminate, rounded, and leathery. |
Flower Description |
White, 1.5-2 cm across, borne in 7 cm diameter corymbs before or with the leaves. Stunning in bloom. |
Fruit Description |
Small rounded pome, 1.25 cm or less across, russet dotted, hidden by the foliage; not ornamentally effective; may be present in great quantities. |
Colour Description |
Outstanding glossy dark green in summer changing to glossy scarlet and purple shades in the autumn. |
Texture Description |
Medium in leaf, ridged bark. |
Propagation |
Bradford is a grafted form. |