# Callery pear (*Pyrus calleryana*) The Callery pear is a beautiful tree with white flowers in spring. It has shiny green leaves that turn bright colors in the fall. This tree is often found in parks and gardens, making them lovely places to visit. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 6 - **Habitat:** Urban areas ![Callery pear](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Pyrus_calleryana.JPG&width=800) Photo: Bruce Marlin, CC BY 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pyrus_calleryana.JPG) ## Appearance The Callery pear is a deciduous tree known for its dense clusters of five-petaled white flowers that cover its branches in early spring. Its glossy green leaves turn brilliant shades of red, orange, and purple in autumn, often holding their color late into the season. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Rosales - **Family:** Rosaceae - **Genus:** Pyrus ## Interesting facts - Callery pears are an invasive species, outcompeting native plants for space! - Its tiny, round fruits might be bitter, but birds gobble them up for a winter snack! - The beautiful white flowers of the Callery pear surprisingly have a fishy smell! - These trees were once popular for city streets because they grow super fast! ## Special abilities - **Tough Town Dweller:** Callery pear can grow in poor soils and tolerate pollution, helping it survive in harsh city environments. - **Thorn Shield:** Callery pear has sharp thorns on its branches that help defend it from animals trying to browse its leaves. - **Aggressive Spreader:** Callery pear can easily escape gardens and quickly colonize new areas, helping it reproduce rapidly. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 450-1800 cm - **Spread:** 300-900 cm - **Flower Size:** 2-3 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Provides nectar and pollen for pollinators. - **Eats:** [European starling](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-starling) (*Sturnus vulgaris*) — Birds consume the small fruits, helping disperse seeds. - **Eaten by:** [White-tailed deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — Deer browse on young shoots and leaves. ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [Broadleaf Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/broadleaf-tree): Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Fruit Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fruit-bearing): Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds. - [Fall Color](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fall-color): Fall color refers to the seasonal change in foliage pigmentation, primarily in deciduous plants, displaying vibrant hues. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. - [Invasive](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/invasive): Invasive species are non-native organisms that cause harm to the environment, economy, or human health. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Be careful around trees; don't climb too high and watch for falling branches. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Callery pear? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Callery pear? 450-1800 cm ### How wide does Callery pear spread? 300-900 cm ### How big are the flowers on Callery pear? 2-3 cm ### When does Callery pear bloom? Spring ### Is Callery pear edible? Yes ### Is Callery pear toxic? None ### What is Callery pear's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Hedgesville Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/hedgesville-historic-district) — West Virginia, US · Historic District - [Arrowhead Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/arrowhead-park) — Virginia, US · Park - [Atlanta Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/atlanta-botanical-garden) — Georgia, US · Botanical Garden - [Brattonsville Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/brattonsville-historic-district) — South Carolina, US · Historic District - [Leesburg Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/leesburg-historic-district) — Virginia, US · Historic District - [Mozley Park Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mozley-park-historic-district) — Georgia, US · Historic District [View all places to see Callery pear](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/callery-pear) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Callery pear: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/callery-pear)