Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
One of the most popular trees for fall color is the Callery pear (Pyrus calleryana). Most start with a deep purple color that becomes red. Bradford was the original, but it has been replaced with many improved cultivars.
There are many cultivars and each of these has different characteristics. Select the ones that give you the shape and color that you want in your landscape.
Here is a list of some of the flowering pears courtesy of Michigan State University.
Pyrus calleryana--Callery Pear Hardiness Zones: 5 to 8 Height: 40 ft Spread: 30 ft Form: oval Type: deciduous tree Annual Growth Rate: 12 to 18 inches Flowers: White
Comments: Callery Pear cultivars are excellent flowering trees. The flowers are white and appear in early spring. The fall color starts as a deep purple then becomes red. Some of the cultivars are susceptible to fire blight.
Cultivars:
'Aristocrat' - Wider branch angles make this the widest cultivar and less susceptible to storm damage. Unfortunately, it is susceptible to fire blight.
'Autumn Blaze' - One of the hardiest cultivars and the earliest to develop fall color. Susceptible to fire blight.
'Bradford' - An oval tree (Vis. 3) with a branching structure that is susceptible to storm damage.
'Bursnozam' (Burgundy Snow TM) - White flowers with burgundy centers, a heavy bloomer.
'Capital' - A columnar tree only 12 feet wide.
'Cleprizam' (Cleveland Pride TM) - A pyramidal tree with salmon-pink juvenile foliage.
'Cleveland Select', 'Glen's Form' (Chanticleer TM) - A narrowly pyramidal tree about 15 feet wide.
'Edgedell' (Edgewood TM) - Silvery green foliage is the (Vis. 6) trait that distinguishes this cultivar from other Callery Pears.
'Fronzam' (Frontier TM) - A hardy cultivar with an upright shape.
'Gladzam' (Gladiator TM) - A vigorous cultivar with a pyramidal habit.
'Jaczam' (Jack TM) - A dwarf that will be 20 feet tall and 10 feet wide.
'Jilzam' (Jill TM) - A rounded dwarf that can reach a height and spread of 20 feet.
'Mepozam' (Metropolitan TM) - A broadly pyramidal tree with a height of about 45 feet and width of 35 feet.
'Redspire' - A dense. pyramidal tree with abundant white flowers.
'Stonehill' - A pyramidal tree reaching a height of 35 feet and a spread of 20 feet.
'Trinity' (Plant Patent 4530) - An oval to rounded form, slightly smaller than other cultivars.
'Valzam' (Valiant TM) - An upright to pyramidal form (Vis. 7) with a height of about 30 feet and spread of 20 feet.
'Whitehouse' - A U. S. National Arboretum selection with a narrow pyramidal crown and early fall color development.
written by: Larry A. Sagers Extension Horticulture Specialist Utah State University Thanksgiving Point Office
