Posted by
Meldu512 on Oct 3, 2020 2:40 PM concerning plant:
Use caution when planting the Bradford Pear. Our neighborhood used them extensively as street trees ten years ago. Two years ago Fireblight Disease hit the trees and our HOA has now spent over 30,000.00 to remove and replace these trees.
Posted by
SongofJoy (Clarksville, TN - Zone 6b) on Jan 15, 2013 7:10 AM concerning plant:
These trees are subject to breakage and are easily broken or split in very windy conditions. Almost every year a number of mature specimens are lost here.
Posted by
virginiarose (Virginia - Zone 8a) on Feb 2, 2014 10:21 AM concerning plant:
Spring flowers smell like fish.
Posted by
eclayne (Pioneer Valley south, MA, USA - Zone 6a) on Jan 15, 2013 11:52 AM concerning plant:
The Bradford Pear was for years a common street tree in Boston's Fort Point Channel district. Generally thought to be low maintenance, its fairly upright habit is particularly well suited to the narrow sidewalks common throughout much of Boston while the root system creates little or no heaving of brick sidewalks. Many side streets, planted exclusively with Bradfords, create a wonderful spring display. Unfortunately over the years the very windy conditions of this harbor-side area have taken a toll and the Bradfords have fallen out of favor.
Posted by
virginiarose (Virginia - Zone 8a) on Feb 2, 2014 10:20 AM concerning plant:
Surface roots and deep shade make it impossible to grow grass under it.
Posted by
virginiarose (Virginia - Zone 8a) on Feb 2, 2014 10:34 AM concerning plant:
Flowers are sterile but can cross-pollinate with other trees and produce thousands of tiny pears that produce thorny seedlings, which are invasive.
Posted by
ILPARW (southeast Pennsylvania - Zone 6b) on Apr 24, 2018 7:40 PM concerning plant:
'Bradford' was the first great cultivar of this Callery Pear from China that was released in the 1970's. It had a broad and very rounded form. It bore very little of the tiny brown pears at first, until other cultivars were planted around also and there was cross-pollination. Callery Pear is a weak, brittle-wooded tree and the 'Bradford' cultivar was especially susceptible to a lot of storm breakage. I remember a few that broke right in two in northeast Illinois back in the 80's and 90's. The nursery industry discontinued it by 2000 because of its weakness. No great loss.
Posted by
gardengus (Indiana Zone 5b) on Jun 8, 2014 3:37 PM concerning plant:
I take care of several of these trees at several homes. I personally think they create a beautiful display in the spring, but they smell awful. I have several problems with them: breakage from rather moderate or heavy winds, the endless suckers from shallow roots, and seedlings everywhere. They are on the invasive ''watch list'' of some states and banned in some cities.
I do not and would not own one of these trees. There are many other good choices for a small flowering tree.