Pyrus calleryana

Callery pear
All over the city these trees are blooming along the streets. White blossoms open just as the rounded, pale green leaves emerge, making a pretty pattern of soft colors. The leaves become glossy and dark green as they mature. The upright branches come out low in the trunk, about 4 to 5 feet above the ground and are very dense in the center of the tree. The bark becomes platy as it ages. They seem to do quite well here. In the Midwest they often split or die out in the center from crown cankers. They do need a cool winter to do well, but are prone to fungal diseases. Native to China, Callery pear is in the rose family. ‘Bradford’ is the most commonly planted cultivar. The fruits are cute tiny green pears, but they’re too hard and astringent to eat.