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Plants

Pyrus calleryana

Callery Pear

a perennial woody deciduous member of the Pyrus genus in the family Rosaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Rosaceae
Genus
Pyrus
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
deciduous
Woodiness
woody
Height
15 m
Spread
15 m
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Fruit - raw or cooked[1]. Best used after it has been exposed to frost[4][5], since this will soften and sweeten the flesh[K]. The fruit is about 25mm in diameter[7].

Plant part
Fruit

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

This species is widely used as a rootstock[5], especially for cultivars of Pyrus pyrifolia[8]. It is said to induce earlier bearing[3]. The wood of this species is hard and close-grained, and is sometimes used for making furniture and stools[8].

Product or use
Wood

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Canopy, Secondary canopy

Environment

Range
E. Asia - China, central and southern Japan.
Habitat
Thickets and streamsides to 1500 metres[2]. Slopes, plains, mixed valley forests and thickets at elevations of 100 - 1800 metres[8].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 5+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay, heavy clay
Soil pH
very acid, acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerances
drought
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
tolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe in the autumn, it will then usually germinate in mid to late winter. Stored seed requires 8 - 10 weeks cold stratification at 1°c and should be sown as early in the year as possible[7]. Temperatures over 15 - 20°c induce a secondary dormancy in the seed[7]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in light shade in a cold frame or greenhouse for their first year. Plant them out in late spring or early summer of the following year.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers a good well-drained loam in full sun[7]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Tolerates light shade but does not fruit so well in such a position. Tolerates atmospheric pollution, excessive moisture and a range of soil types if they are moderately fertile[7]. Established plants are drought tolerant[7]. Grows well on acid soils[3]. Plants are hardy to about -40°c when they are fully dormant[3]. There are many named forms selected for their ornamental value[7]. The cultivar 'Bradford' is resistant to fireblight[6]. Resists fireblight, collar rot, root aphis, pear psylla and root lesion nematodes[3]. Trees have a short dormancy period and lose their leaves late in the season[3].

References

  1. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩

  2. Wilson. E. H. Plantae Wilsonae.

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  3. Natural Food Institute, Wonder Crops. 1987.

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  4. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

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  5. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2

  6. Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7

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  7. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

  8. Flora of China 1994-00-00 http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/

    ↩1↩2↩3

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