The Rise and Fall of the Ornamental Callery Pear Tree

摘要

One of the most notable heralds ofspring in the eastern United Statesis the profuse blooming of ornamentalpear trees in front yards and alongcity streets. The Callery pear (Pyruscalleryana), and particularly its manycultivars such as ‘Bradford’, ‘ClevelandSelect’, and ‘Aristocrat’, has become oneof the most popular ornamental trees inNorth America. However, its commercialsuccess has now become overshadowedby its tendency to spread along roadwaysand into natural areas through reseeding.Today this tree is considered invasive inmany states, in stark contrast to how itgrows in its native range in Asia. How didthis tree become the scourge of land managersacross North America? What hasled to its fall from grace? To understandthis fascinating story, we need to startat the beginning.