- Mature height
- 10m to 15m (approx.)
- Mature width
- 6m to 9m
Pyrus calleryana 'Bradford' is a large deciduous ornamental pear, broadly pyramidal when young and rounding out with age. Spring brings a heavy cover of white blossom on bare wood, followed by glossy dark green leaves. Autumn colour runs through red, purple and orange, and holds late into the season in cooler districts.
It does best in full sun in almost any soil that is not permanently wet, and it tolerates urban conditions, wind, heat and frost. Growth is 40 to 70 centimetres a year and drought tolerance is good once established. The one real weakness is narrow branch angles, so formative pruning in the early years is worth the effort.
It reaches 12 to 15 metres tall and 6 to 9 metres wide, which puts it in parks, wide streetscapes, rural driveways and large gardens rather than on small blocks. Give it room away from buildings and powerlines. Where the brief calls for a big, symmetrical, low input shade tree with a spring display, it answers it.
Frequently Asked Questions
About Bradford Pear
What is a Bradford Pear?
Bradford is the original named cultivar of the callery pear, a deciduous ornamental tree grown for its dense white spring blossom, glossy summer foliage and strong autumn colour. It forms a broad pyramidal crown that rounds with maturity. The fruit is a small hard pome of no culinary use, so this is a tree grown purely for display and shade.
How big does a Bradford Pear grow?
It matures at 12 to 15 metres tall with a spread of 6 to 9 metres, making it one of the larger ornamental pears. Most of the height goes on in the first fifteen years, with the crown broadening afterwards. It needs genuine space, so check the distance to buildings, powerlines and boundaries before committing to a position.
How fast does it grow?
Moderate to quick, about 40 to 70 centimetres a year on reasonable soil with water through the establishment period. That rate gives usable canopy within a few seasons, which is part of why it became such a widely planted street tree. Growth eases as the tree matures and puts its energy into widening the crown.
Is it evergreen or deciduous?
Deciduous. It holds foliage from spring through to late autumn, colours strongly, then drops its leaves for winter and stands bare until blossom opens the following spring. That winter bareness is useful in a street or garden setting because it lets low winter sun reach the ground and the buildings behind the tree.
Does it get good autumn colour in Australia?
Yes, and it is one of the more reliable deciduous trees for autumn colour in this country. The display comes late, often May into June, and runs through orange, red and deep purple. Cool nights sharpen the colour, so cold inland and highland gardens get a better and longer show than warm coastal ones.
Is it prone to branch splitting?
It can be. Bradford naturally produces many limbs from a narrow section of trunk at tight angles, and mature trees are known to split in storms. This is manageable rather than fatal. Prune in the first five years to space the main limbs out along the leader and remove the tightest crotches while the wood is small.
How do I prune and care for a Bradford Pear?
Focus your effort early. Establish a single leader, thin competing limbs and widen branch spacing while the tree is young, then prune only for deadwood and clearance later on. Prune in late winter while dormant. Water deeply for the first two summers, mulch a wide ring clear of the trunk, and it will look after itself from there.