Bradford Pear Trees
Pyrus calleryana 'Bradford'
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Can you believe that beautiful color?! Wow! It is just breathtaking in person! This picture just does not do it justice. THIS is why I planted Bradford Pears in my yard! I adore their Fall color! I took these pictures in January 2002. This was the first year the Bradford Pears showed off their best of their Fall color. The temperatures in our area are highly variable, and many years the temperature remains warm until a cold front comes through. Unfortunately, the warm weather followed by a sudden freeze usually cause our trees to go from green to brown (as in dead leaves). But every once in a while we get cool temperatures long enough for the leaves to change color. This particular year was just wonderful!

I gathered some of the leaves that had already fallen so I could photograph their vivid colors. The reds are a brilliant red. The yellows are bright and clear. Mixed in are some leaves in the process of changing from green to yellow and a few dark burgundy leaves. Oh, what a treat these colors are for this Southern gardener!

My husband started out one day to rake up all these beautiful leaves, and I caught him in time to stop him. I kept those beautiful leaves on the ground as long as I could. The Fall color display is always far too short, and I wanted to keep those beautiful colors around as long as I could. The beautiful colors lasted a couple of weeks before finally fading away.

Basic Facts Common Name:   Bradford Pear Scientific Name:   Pyrus calleryana 'Bradford' Hardiness Zones:   4 to 9 Habit:   Deciduous Growth Rate:   n/a Site Requirements:   Full sun; adaptive to many soil types; drought tolerant; pollution tolerant Form:   Immature: Pyramidal Mature: Rounded crown, upward angled branching Height:   30 to 50' Width:   20 to 35' Leaf:   Alternate leaf arrangement; simple leaves, ovate leaf shape, up to 3" long; leathery; dark green Flower/Fruit:   Clusters of white flowers, 3/4" in diameter; blooms in Spring Fruit round, less than 1/2" diameter; inconspicuous Propagation:   Cuttings Comments:   Small to medium sized trees, often used to accent buildings, driveways and streets Problems:   Fireblight; iron deficiency; tight upward angled branches may cause adult trees to literally split in half Facts Source:   Texas Tech University Bradford Pear Facts Zone Map:   USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map