Pyrus calleryana 'Bradford' - Evergreen Trees Direct

Pyrus calleryana 'Bradford'

$280.00

Tax included. Shipping calculated at checkout.

Size: 40cm/45L

40cm/45L 100L 750L

Current Stock Height Guides

40cm/45L: Approx. 1.5m – 2.8m tall
100L: Approx. 2.6m – 3m tall
750L: Enquire within for height guide information.

Height guide disclaimer: Height ranges are approximate only. As living products, plant heights naturally vary between individual plants, batches, and seasons. No guarantee is given that supplied plants will fall within the stated range. If minimum heights are required, you mustconfirm current batch heights with Evergreen Trees Direct prior to purchase. Variation in height is normal and is not grounds for return, refund, replacement, or compensation.

Mature Height & Width

Mature Height: 10m to 15m (approx.)

Mature Width: 6m to 9m

Pyrus calleryana 'Bradford' is expected to grow 40cm to 70cm per year (moderate) (approx.).

Root Ball Dimensions

Use this as a reference when digging your planting hole. We recommend digging at least 10% wider than the dimensions below to encourage strong root development.

30cm Pot: 33cm (W) × 30cm (D)
40cm/45L Pot: 44cm (W) × 41.5cm (D)
50cm Pot / 70L Pot: 55cm (W) × 41.8cm (D)
100L Bag: 50.6cm (W) × 52.8cm (D)
150L Bag: 66cm (W) × 55cm (D)
200L Bag: 71.5cm (W) × 60.5cm (D)
300L Bag: 88cm (W) × 63.8cm (D)
400L Bag: 99cm (W) × 66cm (D)
500L Bag: 122cm (W) × 66cm (D)
750L Bag: 134cm (W) × 69cm (D)
1000L Bag: 146.3cm (W) × 71.5cm (D)
2000L Bag: 176cm (W) × 82.5cm (D)

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Contact

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Email: sales@evergreentrees.com.au

Phone: (03) 7042 3318

About Your New Pyrus calleryana 'Bradford'

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.

Enriched Planting Mix (AO Certified)

$21.95

Enriched Planting Mix is a certified organic blend of Pure Magic Compost, composted animal manure, gypsum, composted coarse bark and a wetting agent, bagged in 30L. It is built to be dug through existing garden soil at planting time rather than used on its own, and the gypsum is what sets it apart from a plain compost.

Gypsum helps break up heavy clay so water and roots can move through it, while the compost and manure return organic matter and nutrient to tired ground. The coarse bark holds structure and keeps air around the root zone, and the wetting agent keeps moisture in the soil longer after rain or watering.

Use it when planting trees, shrubs, roses, fruit trees and exotic garden plants, particularly into clay. Dig a hole twice the width of the pot and 7 centimetres deeper, then mix roughly one third planting mix through the excavated soil. Spread 7 centimetres of that improved soil in the base before setting the plant in.

Frequently Asked Questions

About Enriched Planting Mix

What is Enriched Planting Mix made from?

It is a blend of Pure Magic Compost, composted animal manure, gypsum, composted coarse bark and a wetting agent. Each part has a job. The compost and manure supply organic matter and nutrient, the gypsum works on clay structure, the bark keeps air around the roots and the wetting agent holds moisture in the soil.

What plants is it suitable for?

It suits exotic garden plants, including roses, ornamental and deciduous trees, fruit trees, shrubs and perennials, and it earns its keep most on heavy clay sites. It is a planting mix rather than a potting mix, so its job is improving soil at planting time. Phosphorus sensitive natives are the one clear exception.

Is it safe for natives?

No, not for the phosphorus sensitive ones. The composted animal manure in this blend lifts phosphorus well above what Proteaceae such as Banksia, Grevillea, Hakea and Protea will tolerate, and the result can be leaf burn, dieback and plant death. Use the Native Potting Mix for those species, or plant them into unimproved local soil.

Is it certified organic?

Yes. It is a certified organic product with no chemical additives, which is why the manure and compost in it are fully composted rather than raw. That makes it sound around fruit trees and vegetable beds, and it means you are adding genuine organic matter to your soil rather than a synthetic conditioner.

How much do I need?

Work on roughly one third planting mix to two thirds of the soil you dug out of the hole. For a shrub out of a 200 millimetre pot that is only a few litres. An advanced tree going into a large hole will take considerably more. Judge the quantity by the volume of the hole rather than the size of the plant.

Can I use it in pots?

It is not a potting mix and should not be used on its own in a container. The blend is designed to be diluted through garden soil, and used straight in a pot it holds too much water and settles badly. For containers, reach for a premium potting mix, or the native mix if you are potting natives.

Does it need to be watered in?

Yes. Water the plant well several hours before you plant it, then water thoroughly again once the hole is backfilled and the soil firmed down. That first deep watering settles the improved soil around the root ball and drives out air pockets. Keep the water up over the first few months while the roots establish.

View full details

Type: Garden Supplies

Enriched Planting Mix (AO Certified)

$21.95

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Uses in my Garden

Feature Tree
Street Tree
Avenue Planting
Screening or Privacy

Pyrus calleryana 'Bradford' works in an:

Formal Garden – structured, symmetrical design with clipped shapes.
Modern Garden – sleek, minimal, and design-led planting.
Woodland Garden – layered, naturalistic design under dappled light.
Low-maintenance Garden – resilient choices for easy care and year-round appeal.

Is Pyrus calleryana 'Bradford' Evergreen or Deciduous?

Pyrus calleryana 'Bradford' is an Deciduous (Defoliates throughout colder months) Tree

Mature Height & Width

Mature Height: 10m to 15m (approx.)

Mature Width: 6m to 9m

Pyrus calleryana 'Bradford' is expected to grow 40cm to 70cm per year (moderate) (approx.).

Growth Rate of Pyrus calleryana 'Bradford'

Pyrus calleryana 'Bradford' is expected to grow 40cm to 70cm per year (moderate) (approx.).

They are considered to have a:

Medium Growth Rate

Frost Tolerance & Ideal Climate to plant Pyrus calleryana 'Bradford'

Is Pyrus calleryana 'Bradford' frost tolerant?

Pyrus calleryana 'Bradford' is Frost Hardy – Survives heavy and frequent frost without damage.

Does Pyrus calleryana 'Bradford' Flower?

Pyrus calleryana ‘Bradford’ produces masses of pure white, five-petalled blossoms in early spring. The rounded flower clusters cover the tree before or as the new leaves emerge, creating a bright, showy display that stands out in streetscapes and ornamental plantings.

Does Pyrus calleryana 'Bradford' flower?

Yes - Flowers

Flowering Period:

Spring

Flower Type:

Clustered

Flower Colour:

White

Is Pyrus calleryana 'Bradford' an Australian Native Tree?

No

Pyrus calleryana 'Bradford' is Native to Native to China and Vietnam, where Pyrus calleryana occurs naturally. ‘Bradford’ is one of the earliest and most widely planted ornamental cultivars, known for its uniform shape and seasonal display.

What is the Wildlife Value of Pyrus calleryana 'Bradford' ?

Its abundant spring blossoms attract bees and early-season pollinators. The small, hard autumn fruits are eaten by certain bird species, while the dense branching offers shelter, perching and seasonal nesting sites, contributing biodiversity value to suburban and landscape plantings.

How much Sunlight does Pyrus calleryana 'Bradford' need?

Pyrus calleryana 'Bradford' will thrive best in:

Full Sun

Preferred Soil?

Pyrus calleryana ‘Bradford’ performs best in well-drained loam or sandy loam soils and tolerates slightly acidic to slightly alkaline conditions. It adapts to poorer urban soils but may struggle in heavy, compacted or waterlogged clay unless improved with organic matter and coarse material to enhance drainage. Keep soil evenly moist during establishment, then move to deep, occasional watering as the tree matures to support drought resilience, strong root development and consistent spring flowering.

Is Pyrus calleryana 'Bradford' Drought Tolerant?

Is Pyrus calleryana 'Bradford' Drought tolerant?

As a young tree it requires regular watering, but once established ‘Bradford’ offers good drought tolerance. Hardy and adaptable, it performs well in warm, dry and urban environments, maintaining its dense, rounded canopy with only occasional deep watering during extended dry periods.

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How To Plant Your Pyrus calleryana 'Bradford'

Site: Choose a well-drained position in full sun to part shade with room for the canopy to develop.

Soil preparation: Enrich the planting area with quality compost and aged manure for a strong establishment phase.

Hole: Dig twice as wide as the root ball and the same depth.

Planting: Position level with the surrounding soil, backfill gently, firm in, then water deeply to settle the roots.

Recommended Planting Spacing For Your Pyrus calleryana 'Bradford'

Hedging and screening: 1 to 1.5 metres apart for a dense informal screen, or 80 centimetres apart for a tighter formal hedge.

Feature tree: 3 to 4 metres apart to allow the full canopy and form to develop.

Avenue planting: 3 metres apart for a uniform soft-textured avenue.

Pyrus calleryana 'Bradford' is expected to grow 40cm to 70cm per year (moderate) (approx.).

Medium Growth Rate

Long Term Care For Your Pyrus calleryana 'Bradford'

Watering: Water deeply twice weekly through the first 12 months. Once established, reduce to once weekly in dry periods. Mulch helps maintain consistent moisture.

Mulching: Apply a 5 to 7 centimetre layer of organic mulch over the root zone, keeping it 5 centimetres clear of the trunk.

Pruning: Tip prune in late winter and again in summer to build dense growth. For a formal hedge, light shaping two to three times a year keeps lines crisp.

Fertilising: Apply a slow-release general-purpose fertiliser in early spring and again in autumn for steady growth and consistent foliage colour.

Pest and disease: Hardy against most pests and diseases. Occasional inspection in warm humid conditions is all that's needed.

Planting Your Pyrus calleryana 'Bradford' in Different Soil

Pyrus calleryana performs best in well-drained loam or sandy loam with a slightly acidic to neutral pH. Adaptable to a wide range of soils when drainage is improved with organic matter.

Sandy soil: Free-draining and ideal. Mulch well to maintain consistent moisture.

Clay soil: Improve drainage with gypsum and organic compost before planting.

Loam: The preferred soil for steady root development and consistent growth.

pH: Slightly acidic to neutral preferred. Mulch with composted leaf litter to maintain levels naturally.

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions:

When is the best time to plant Bradford Pear trees?
Planting in early spring or fall is ideal, allowing the tree to establish before the extremes of summer or winter.
How often should I water my Bradford Pear tree?
Regular watering is crucial, especially during the tree’s establishment phase and in periods of drought.
Is Bradford Pear susceptible to any pests or diseases?
While generally robust, Bradford Pear trees can be susceptible to fire blight, a common bacterial disease, and other pests typical to pear trees.
Can Bradford Pear trees be pruned into a specific shape?
Yes, they respond well to pruning, which is necessary to maintain their structural integrity and aesthetic form.
What are the considerations before planting Bradford Pear trees?
While beautiful, they have been known to have weak wood and invasive tendencies in some regions. It's important to consider these factors and consult local guidelines before planting.