Wondering what those trees with flowers are in your area? Although they blend in to our urban forest the rest of the year, one variety of tree pops with white blossoms in the spring.

Ornamental Pear
(Bradford/Aristocrat pear)

• Just like their vivid fall color, the ornamental pear’s white blossoms in the spring provide a beautiful contrast to the dull brown of other trees.
  • The most common ornamental pear in North Texas is the Bradford cultivar of the Callery pear (Pyrus calleryana), but other common varieties include the Aristocrat and Autumn Blaze.
  • The different cultivars exhibit different fall colors, but all have the same white blossoms in the spring.

• However, while the Bradford pear and related varieties may bring some variety to your yard, they are not the best choice for ornamental color.
• Not native to Texas, Bradford pears are not long-lived, and generally only last for about 20-25 years.
  • As they age, Bradford pears become prone to breaking, due to the natural instability of their branch joints.
  • It is not uncommon to see whole mature Bradford pears split.
• Additionally, Bradford pears are susceptible to fireblight, a bacterial disease that can only be managed, not cured.
• If you are looking to add some spring or fall color to your landscape, consider our recommendations.

At Texas Tree Surgeons, we love trees and we love our customers, are we are glad to see some spring blossoms in North Texas! If you have questions about how to care for your Bradford pears or any other trees, let us know!