Weed Alert: Callery Pear

Weed AlertInvasive Plant Control
Written By Rowena Zimmermann

Image:  Richard Gardner, Bugwood.org

Native to China, Callery pear — especially its cultivar 'Bradford' — was widely planted beginning in the 1960s. With its white flowers and attractive fall foliage, Callery pear (Pyrus calleryana) was beloved by landscapers and homeowners alike. Plant nurseries could not seem to sell enough of them despite some unappealing characteristics:

  • Callery pear and its cultivars are short-lived.

  • The branches of Pyrus calleryana break easily in storms.

  • The flowers have an unpleasant scent, often compared to rotting fish.

Image: Callery pear flowers in mid-March 2025 (Albemarle County), by Rowena Zimmermann for Blue Ridge PRISM

Rowena Zimmermann
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