Callery Pear trees at Grand Army Plaza

Callery Pear

Since the early 1960s, cultivars of Callery Pear have been planted extensively in the New York area. The tree is fast growing and is tolerant of pollution and other extreme conditions such as de-icing salt and compaction — it actually seems to thrive under those conditions. Consequently, the Callery Pear is easily grown; you can look at thousands of them in a nursery, and they all look alike. The trees at the Pulitzer Fountain are a cultivar called Bradford. The only other Callery Pear trees are at Duke Ellington Circle and are a cultivar called Chanticleer. 

Callery Pear Flower A profusion of beautiful white flowers, each 1/2 to 3/4 inch in diameter, growing in clusters measuring 2 to 4 inches across, appearing before or with the leaves.	Callery Pear Fruit Round, brown, 1/2 inch diameter. Birds feed on the fruit extensively.
Callery Pear Leaf Heart-shaped, 2 to 3 inches long, with finely serrated edges. Shiny green on top, paler underneath. Beautiful fall colors of deep orange and red.	Callery Pear Bark Smooth with many lenticels, light brown to reddish-brown, with age becoming grayish-brown with shallow furrows and scaly ridges.