Pyrus calleryana
Description: The Cleveland Pear is a medium-sized tree, reaching heights of up to 50 feet. It features a short, single trunk with rigid, ascending branches that create a pyramidal or oval outline, providing a striking presence in various landscapes.
Twig/Bark: The bark is thin and varies in color from brown to gray, remaining smooth in its youth before developing shallow furrows and a scaly texture with age. The twigs are stout, reddish-brown, and covered with white tomentum when young.
Leaves: The leaves are widely ovate with a rounded base and finely serrated edges. The thick leaf blades have a dark green, shiny upper surface and a paler lower surface, adding to the tree’s visual appeal.
Flower/Fruit: In spring, as the leaves emerge, the tree produces flowers in corymbs of 5 to 12. The petals are white and less than 1 cm long, complemented by 20 stamens with bright pink anthers. Under certain conditions, a second flowering may occur in the fall. The fruit is globose, ranging in color from light to dark brown with pale spots, and is visible in the autumn.
Habitat: The Cleveland Pear adapts well to a variety of environments, thriving in disturbed forests, pastures, old fields, prairies, roadsides, stream banks, and urban areas.