Mar 20, 2025 · Bradford pear trees are the trees people love to hate. Notorious for their funky-smelling flowers, these blooming trees are a sign of spring in many places — but that's not to say they're welcomed with smiles from everyone.

Pyrus calleryana, also known as the Callery pear or Bradford pear, is a species of pear tree native to China and Vietnam, [2] in the family Rosaceae. It is most commonly known for its cultivar 'Bradford' and its offensive odor, widely planted throughout the United States and increasingly regarded as an invasive species .

Sep 4, 2024 · The Bradford pear tree can be identified by the distinct, rancid smell emanating from the bundles of five-petaled white or pink flowers every spring. Oval or heart-shaped leaves with small teeth on the edges are shiny green on top and dull green on the bottom, turning reddish-purple in the fall.

Mar 20, 2025 · A Bradford pear tree in bloom is a sure sign that springtime is in the air. You may have noticed the trees by the delicate white flowers they carry, adding to the beautiful seasonal backdrop.

May 8, 2024 · The Bradford pear tree is a variety of Callery pear cultivated in the early 1950s as a sterile tree without sharp spurs. Unfortunately, it cross-pollinated with other varieties leading to the rapid spread and out-competing of native species that we see in fields, along roadsides, and in forests today (Figs. 2 & 3).

Apr 6, 2019 · Bradford pear, the first Callery pear introduced landscaping, is a beautiful flowering tree but with problems related to invasiveness and breakage.

Dec 22, 2024 · The Bradford pear tree, often celebrated for its aesthetic appeal, possesses invasive characteristics that threaten local ecosystems. Understanding these traits highlights the reasons behind its growing bans.

Mar 14, 2025 · What are the origins of the Bradford pear tree? The first broad introduction of the Callery pear in the U.S. was in 1916 after pear orchards in Oregon were ravaged by a bacterial disease known as ...

Jul 16, 2020 · Native to Asia, the Callery pear (Pyrus calleryana) was originally introduced to the United States in the early 1900s as rootstock for domesticated pears. It is also known as "Bradford" pear, a name given to its most widely planted landscaping cultivar.

Bradford pear (Pyrus calleryana ‘Bradford’) is a spring-flowering tree that has been widely planted throughout the eastern U.S. in the last few decades. It is a popular tree that is frequently seen in nearly every city within its growing range.