How to Grow and Care for Bradford pear

Bradford pear, also known as Callery pear, ornamental pear, decorative pear, Chanticleer pear

Bradford pear has a reputation for being a resilient urban tree, tolerating a variety of soil types, pollution, and drought conditions. Special care points for bradford pear include ensuring it is planted in an area with full sun exposure and taking caution with its strong tendency to branch excessively, which merits regular pruning to maintain tree structure and health. Despite the need for structural upkeep, overall bradford pear is easy to care for.

Watering schedule: Every 1-2 weeks

Sunlight Requirements: Full sun

Toxic to Pets

In This Article

Planting and Growing Bradford pear

Toughness	High
Care Level	Low
Care Difficulty	Easy
Lifespan	Perennial
Watering Schedule	Every 1-2 weeks
Sunlight Requirements	Full sun
Soil pH	6-7.5
Planting Time	Spring, Fall
Hardiness Zones	5-9
Toxicity	Toxic to Pets

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Varieties of Bradford pear

Bradford pear 'Chanticleer'

Bradford pear 'Chanticleer' (Pyrus calleryana 'Chanticleer') is a very popular cultivar of Callery pear (Pyrus calleryana) and is often referred to as ‘Cleveland Select,’ ‘Select,’ ‘Stone Hill,’ and ‘Glen’s Form’ as well. 'Chanticleer' is the name of a rooster character in some classic poems and fairy tales. The tree's pyramidal and narrow shape make it a favorite ornamental tree for tight landscaping areas. Bradford pear 'Chanticleer' does produce fruits, but they are inedible.

Bradford pear 'Bradford'

Bradford pear 'Bradford' is named for Frederick Charles Bradford, who, in the 1950s, developed this callery pear cultivar at the USDA’s Maryland plant station. In spring the tree produces a profusion of brilliant white flowers, and then in fall, the leaves turn from dark green to brilliant shades of red and brown.

Common Pests & Diseases

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The Toxicity of Bradford pear

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More General Info About Bradford pear

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Bradford pear exhibits a bark that transitions from light brown to reddish-brown to light gray with age, becoming ridged and furrowed. Young twigs are stout and white-pubescent, ripening to a smooth, shiny brown, and may bear a thorn at the tip. The elongate, wooly buds are gray-pubescent. Its foliage includes dark green, glossy, ovate leaves with crenate and wavy margins, paler on the underside. White, 5-petaled flowers of 0.75 to 1 inch (1.9 to 2.5 cm) in diameter form dense clusters and emit a strong scent. Fruits are small spheres, yellowish-green to brown, measuring 0.5 to 1 inch (1.3 to 2.5 cm) in diameter.