Can you please help me identify this tree? Saw a bunch of them in the parking lot. The blooms look nice and seems to be disease free.

Callery, aka Bradford pear.
Unfortunately, has not turned out to be a good choice to plant, if you were thinking that.

I agree.

I agree. Had one but there won't be another.

To reinforce the reasons to avoid this species (Pyrus calleryana and its many clonal selections), take notice any time now that you are driving around Richmond VA and environs. A quick trip out to an interstate into rural areas and back will likely surely reveal the invasive plague that this species has become.

Almost any unmanaged area will have seedlings of Callery Pear emergent and blooming, along with the purposely planted (overplanted) individuals in landscapes across eastern and midwestern North America.

Disease-free? Not exactly, but then again Kudzu, Tree-of-Heaven, Russian Thistle, and Japanese Honeysuckle are not beset by many pests, either.

A better choice might be a Flowering Dogwood, Virginia Fringetree, Ornamental Cherry, Hawthorn or Crabapple. Bradfords are invasive, short-lived and smelly.

Or almost anything else.

sallyg said: Callery, aka Bradford pear.
Unfortunately, has not turned out to be a good choice to plant, if you were thinking that.

Darn it! didn't know they plant those in commercial parking lots.

ViburnumValley said: To reinforce the reasons to avoid this species (Pyrus calleryana and its many clonal selections), take notice any time now that you are driving around Richmond VA and environs. A quick trip out to an interstate into rural areas and back will likely surely reveal the invasive plague that this species has become.

Almost any unmanaged area will have seedlings of Callery Pear emergent and blooming, along with the purposely planted (overplanted) individuals in landscapes across eastern and midwestern North America.

Disease-free? Not exactly, but then again Kudzu, Tree-of-Heaven, Russian Thistle, and Japanese Honeysuckle are not beset by many pests, either.

Yes they are everywhere! I didn't know they are as common. They definitely don't have a good reputation

scvirginia said: A better choice might be a Flowering Dogwood, Virginia Fringetree, Ornamental Cherry, Hawthorn or Crabapple. Bradfords are invasive, short-lived and smelly.

I think I play it safe and go with crape myrtles. I'm looking to for a trouble free tree for my side yard. It's south facing so dogwoods are redbuds are out. Cherries have disease issues and some have surface roots. Fringe tree may be an option.

There are many choices in Lagerstroemia - take the time to peruse the characteristics of the selections. Many colors are available, but not all named varieties perform equally regarding disease and pest problems.

I am strongly biased toward the work of the late Dr. Don Egolf at the US National Arboretum. Most favored for his work in the genus Viburnum ( you can never have too many), he also dabbled in his spare time with Crape-myrtle. You don't have enough fingers and toes to count them all, but they pretty much all have Native American tribal names. Do a search for USNA and plant introductions; they have great information and photographs on their website.

Consider colors, form, height, and ornamental bark characteristics. There are some other selections with odd foliage coloration, but I hope you don't select one of those.

https://garden.org/plants/brow...

ViburnumValley said: There are many choices in Lagerstroemia - take the time to peruse the characteristics of the selections. Many colors are available, but not all named varieties perform equally regarding disease and pest problems.

I am strongly biased toward the work of the late Dr. Don Egolf at the US National Arboretum. Most favored for his work in the genus Viburnum ( you can never have too many), he also dabbled in his spare time with Crape-myrtle. You don't have enough fingers and toes to count them all, but they pretty much all have Native American tribal names. Do a search for USNA and plant introductions; they have great information and photographs on their website.

Consider colors, form, height, and ornamental bark characteristics. There are some other selections with odd foliage coloration, but I hope you don't select one of those.

https://garden.org/plants/brow...

Thanks for the tips. I checked several of them at the botanical garden. So far I'm considering natches and Potomac. Both get relatively large over time.

ceriano said: I think I play it safe and go with crape myrtles. I'm looking to for a trouble free tree for my side yard. It's south facing so dogwoods are redbuds are out. Cherries have disease issues and some have surface roots. Fringe tree may be an option.

I didn't mention Crape Myrtles since I wasn't sure they were hardy in Richmond. I also forgot to mention Magnolias, and I'm sure there are other smallish flowering trees that would work. Have fun choosing!

Don't be too swayed by the Crape Myrtle photo above, however, clearly it has been photo-shopped.

Copy. Paste. Paste. Paste. Done!

porkpal said: Don't be too swayed by the Crape Myrtle photo above, however, clearly it has been photo-shopped.

Correct! That's my house and I used iScape app!
Here it is without trees. The only reason I'm looking for a disease restaurant flowering tree that does fine in full sun. Cherries and crap apples have disease issues. I love deciduous magnolias but they only look good before they leaf out. Not a fan of southern magnolias.

You definitely need some tees!

I think I'd be more interested in getting a native shade tree in there first... worry about the understory after you've got some decent shade going...

I suggest poplar as a fast growing attractive shade tree... host plant to the Georgia state butterfly!

Other good options include red maple, and maybe some of the oaks... They won't be as fast as the poplar, though... Although... the maple relative box elder is a very fast grower...

I hate crape myrtles... They don't seem to be good for much... Lots of flowering trees and shrubs... Consider vitex... Gorgeous!

stone said: I think I'd be more interested in getting a native shade tree in there first... worry about the understory after you've got some decent shade going...

I suggest poplar as a fast growing attractive shade tree... host plant to the Georgia state butterfly!

Other good options include red maple, and maybe some of the oaks... They won't be as fast as the poplar, though... Although... the maple relative box elder is a very fast grower...

I hate crape myrtles... They don't seem to be good for much... Lots of flowering trees and shrubs... Consider vitex... Gorgeous!

Totally agreed on planting native trees. Unfortunately all those trees get huge. I'm looking for something that stays under 30 ft tall.

How about Chittamwood, (gum Bumelia)? It looks a lot like a live oak, is semi-evergreen, produces berries that birds love and stays small.