When Bradford pear was introduced as an ornamental in by the US Department of Agriculture, it was known then that this tree possessed the weakest branch structure in nature. Also, the tree was assumed to be sterile. Bradford pears will seldom last more than 20 years before they bust themselves apart at the seams. In an attempt to extend the lifespan of this despicable tree, other varieties such as Cleveland Select, etc. These trees will live for about 25 years.
After 25 years the ill effects of the steep vs. Planting pears borders on - if not crosses the line — of negligence. However, the fact that Bradford pear trees are short lived and dangerous is not the real reason that these trees are such a disaster. The problem is that these trees are in fact not sterile. No two Bradford pears will ever reproduce among themselves, but they do cross pollinate with every other pear tree out there, including the Cleveland Select pear trees that were meant to be the salvation of flowering pears everywhere.
The introduction of other pear varieties has compounded the problem to the point where it is almost too late to rectify. More: 'Do not plant' Bradford pears. Because of the cross pollination problem, pear trees have now proliferated exponentially across our environment. And, to make matters worse, the evil offspring has reverted to the ancient Chinese Callery pears which form impenetrable thorny thickets that choke out the life out of pines, dogwoods, maples, redbuds, oaks, hickories, etc.
It is a popular tree that is frequently seen in nearly every city within its growing range. The Bradford pear grows 30 to 50 feet tall and 20 to 30 feet wide.
It has a wider and more erect, branchier canopy than the species. A rapid grower 12 to 15 feet increase in height over an 8- to year period , it has a short to moderate life span 15 to 25 years.
The most attractive feature of this thornless tree is the showy white flowers that appear before the leaves in the spring. Early spring flowering may last two weeks, but spring frosts may reduce bloom time. Occasionally the tree will flower in the fall, usually due to some stress factor, like drought. The flowers, unfortunately, have an unpleasant fragrance. Small, round, brown fruit then appear but are hidden by the leaves. Fruits are about the size of a marble and are often eaten by birds.
In the fall, the leaves turn mahogany-red and sometimes bright orange-red. Bradford pears are one of the first flowering trees in the spring, and one of the last trees to have colorful leaves in the fall. White blossoms of Bradford pear are about a half-inch in diameter. Bradford pear fruits are small, round, and hard until they soften after the first frost. That was also nice! My parents have Bartlett pare trees, so your Bradford pares sound lovely. I have only ever tried Bartlet.
You must live much further north than us. According to the weather forecast for Houston it will be Wednesday before any possible freezing temperatures are due. It was 76 degrees today and the second day that I have done extensive work in our yard.
More to do Came back to share this article again because spring is about to spring and lots of people will be looking for trees and shrubs to improve their yards. These are beautiful trees and as you point out, grow quickly. Helpful and informative article with great photos! Happy Valentine's Day to you too! We're having a beautiful day weather-wise, but tomorrow it's back to the deep freeze and winter with sleet and ice and icy temps. My mother-in-law used to have a Chinaberry tree in her backyard in San Antonio.
Some trees are messier than others, but nice to know that there are different trees to suit just about anyone's taste.
Some are heartier, some longer lived, etc. Thanks for your comment and votes on this article about the Bradford Pear trees. These are very pretty, semi-naturalized trees and they grow nicely here in TX.
I like some of the older choices in naturalized trees that were around when I was a child: kataupa, persimmon, chinaberry, mulberry, hackberry, mimosa. Most people think of these as "trash trees" now, but I love them! The Bradford Pear tree is indeed a beautiful tree especially in the Spring when it is laden with flowers and in the Fall when its leaves turn glorious Autumn colors. Compared to some trees, it is actually considered to be a small tree which is why people who live on smaller lots like to use it in their landscaping plans.
Thanks for your comment, the 5 star rating and your share. Peggy, I have never seen this tree but it looks so beautiful.
Very beautiful pictures and it is such a hugh tree yet it bears so beautiful flowers. Voting 5 stars and sharing here. Many of our neighbors have Bradford Pear Trees and we have walked by them often. I have never detected a fish smell. They are certainly beautiful trees especially in the Spring and Fall of the year.
Thanks for your inquiry. Happy to respond. One thing that I love about HubPages is all the reader feedback. We can learn so much from one another. Thanks again! Obviously people do not know about this as a widespread problem because even many of our boulevards maintained by tax dollars are planted with Bradford Pear trees in our part of Houston.
Thanks for informing me and others about the potential danger of it becoming an invasive species. Hate to be a downer, but Bradford Pear trees are highly invasive and are displacing native trees and plants around the world. They are not nutritionally complete for birds and wildlife and are on every government removal list I know of-a junk tree. Most nurseries and even landscape architects, God bless them, know relatively nothing about invasives overall and continue to sell them.
Please encourage folks not to plant these but to plant beautiful native redbuds, hawthorns, etc. Yes, despite the fact of the Bradford Pear trees being relatively short lived and in need of good pruning techniques They do put on such a pretty show in the Spring and the Fall of the year! The Bradford Pear trees are certainly pretty especially in the Spring and Fall of the year.
You would know since you have so many of them in your backyard. Thanks for your comment and votes. This is a great Hub about the Bradford pear tree. I have read some negative aspects about them, but they sure seem to be popular around here. They are everywhere. Bradford Pear trees are excellent trees for landscaping.
We lined out backyard with them in our previous yard and they were just beautiful, spring and fall! Great information here on how to grow and take care of them. Voting this up and useful! I have never noticed the smell of the Bradford Pear trees when in bloom. We walk by them in the neighborhood. Next Spring I will have to get close and give them a sniff to see if I detect that smell your daughter describes.
Appreciate your votes and the share. There are Bradford Pear trees all around the inside courtyard of the apartment complex where I live.
Two of them are directly outside my windows and balcony. They are beautiful in spring full of snowy white blossoms, they do require a lot of pruning, and they are gorgeous in fall with their multicolored leaves. What you left out is that when they are flowering they smell like dead fish. I usually don't smell it, but when my daughter visits she always points the smell out, so I guess my nose is immune. I just added photos of the Bradford Pear tree showing Fall colors.
Pictures taken today, December 14th, in Houston, Texas. You would definitely have noticed the bradford pear trees when in bloom. Perhaps they do not grow in your area? Thanks for leaving a comment. Despite having worked as a landscape architect in Bradford UK , I've never heard of this tree.
Looks wonderful. The Bradford Pear trees are just now starting to bloom in Houston. Soon these fast growing decorative trees will be ablaze with their snowy white blossoms everywhere. Glad to hear that you enjoyed these pictures and thanks for the comment. The Bradford Pear Tree is gorgeous when in full bloom as these pictures showed and are also beautiful in the Fall with the colored leaves.
I had intended to get some pictures of them in the Fall but the time slipped past me this year. Maybe next year! Thanks for the comment. Glad that you found this information about the Bradford Pear Tree helpful. I took the pictures last Spring when we were walking in our subdivision. What a great hub about a beautiful tree. The pictures you have used in this hub are very beautiful. Sometimes people are not well informed about things sold in local nurseries and have to learn through trial and error.
With trees in particular it is best to be well informed before planting because of the expense of upkeep We will simply enjoy the beauty of these Bradford Pear trees where we see them in other landscapes. They ARE beautiful! You did a fabulous job explaining the pros and cons of growing the Bradford pear tree.
Unfortunately, too many commercial landscapers who work for developers up here in the northeast USA sell these trees as instant gratification, quick landscaping additions that last for the short term. They are gorgeous, in every way you described. But they are short-lived, especially without judicious pruning. Oak trees they are not, in terms of longevity. Their quick growth and outstanding beauty from spring through fall make them favorite trees to accompany McManses in new developments here.
After ten or fifteen years, McManse owners are suing developers for the failure of these trees and the cost to cut them down and replace them. Happy to hear that you not only liked the pictures of the bradford pear trees but also found the information useful. That's nice! Guess you do not lack a source on pecans!
We get ours at Costco. When my parents lived in McAllen decades ago we always used to purchase huge bags of already shelled pecans in Reynosa, Mexico for a small price. And prior to us living there, when my grandparents would vacation near Mexico they always brought back pecans and bags of grapefruit to Wisconsin when returning home.
That was always a big treat! Peggy you are so right about the budding Pecans what I have done is pot hem once they have a decent root and give them away - a friend has a ranch perfect for that. Take a look at that same Bradford Pear tree this Fall when the leaves turn colors.
I'll try and take a picture of one and add it to this hub this Fall. They are gorgeous both times of year in this climate. Thanks for your comment! This is a beautiful tree. I have seen one in my subdivision. I never knew it was a Bradford Pear Tree. It look so much like a Dogwood tree, however, I knew that was not true because this is not a zoning area for Dogwood trees. Thanks for sharing. Good hub. Not much can be done about the squirrels.
This is also detrimental to the area-wide pollination needs of other plants. A shorter lifespan usually means shorter generational turnover, so the tree can spread relatively quickly when uncontrolled.
In addition to ecological problems, a weak structural soundness makes this tree prone to damage in storms. The thin limbs have weak branch unions , and as they grow and bear more weight, the connection to the trunk will snap under enough wind or pressure. Since these trees do grow to impressive heights, the risk of injury to people or property from a broken branch can be serious.
Because of these dangers, some residential and commercial developments where Bradford pear trees were planted en masse years ago have chosen to remove them entirely.
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