- Mature height
- 8m to 12m (approx.)
- Mature width
- 1m to 2m
Pyrus calleryana x pyrifolia 'Javelin', the Javelin Pear, is a deciduous ornamental pear with an unusually narrow columnar habit. Masses of small white flowers open on bare branches in spring, followed by glossy green foliage that turns red, orange and burgundy through autumn before dropping for winter.
Full sun suits it best, though it accepts light shade. It takes clay, loam and sandy soils provided drainage is reasonable, and grows about 40 to 70 centimetres a year to a mature 6 to 8 metres tall by 1 to 2 metres wide. Frost hardy and dependable through temperate and cool temperate Australia.
The narrow form earns its place in driveways, side boundaries, courtyards and street verges where a full canopy will not fit. Planted in a row it makes a living screen or a formal avenue on a small scale. Buyers get vertical structure and four seasons of interest from very little ground space.
Frequently Asked Questions
About Javelin Pear
What is a Javelin Pear?
Javelin Pear is the trade name for Pyrus calleryana x pyrifolia 'Javelin', a deciduous ornamental pear bred for a very narrow upright habit. It flowers white in spring, holds glossy green leaves through summer and finishes the year in red, orange and burgundy. It is grown for form and foliage rather than fruit.
How big does a Javelin Pear grow?
Expect 6 to 8 metres tall and only 1 to 2 metres wide at maturity, roughly the footprint of a large shrub carried to the height of a small tree. The column stays tight without staking or clipping, so that width figure holds up over the long term in an open position.
How fast does it grow?
Growth is moderate, about 40 to 70 centimetres a year once the roots are established. In practice an advanced tree fills its allotted height in roughly a decade. Extension is quickest in the first few years after planting when the tree is watered through summer, then steadies as the crown matures.
When does it flower and when does the autumn colour arrive?
White blossom opens in spring, September through November depending on your district, and it appears on bare wood before the leaves expand. Autumn colour follows from March to May, moving through red, orange and burgundy before the tree defoliates. Both displays are reliable in cool and temperate climates.
Does it produce edible fruit?
It sets only small, hard ornamental fruit, and often very little of it. The fruit is nothing like a supermarket pear and is not worth eating, so this is not a tree to plant for a crop. Drop is light, which is one reason the variety is used along paths and driveways.
How far apart should I plant Javelin Pears for a screen?
For a dense informal screen space them 1 to 1.5 metres apart, or 80 centimetres apart for a tighter formal hedge. As a repeated avenue allow 3 metres between trunks, and as a single feature give each tree 3 to 4 metres so the full form can develop.
How do I prune and care for a Javelin Pear?
Water deeply through the first two summers and mulch out to the drip line, keeping the mulch off the trunk itself. Feed with a balanced fertiliser in early spring. Pruning needs are light: take out any wayward or crossing branch in late winter while the tree is bare, and leave the leader alone so the column stays true.