Pyrus calleryana ‘Aristocrat’ – Aristocrat Flowering Pear Tree

Botanical Name: Pyrus calleryana ‘Aristocrat’

Alternate Name: Aristocrat Ornamental Pear, ‘Aristocrat’ Callery Pear

The Aristocrat Flowering Pear (Pyrus calleryana ‘Aristocrat’) is a graceful tree that provides an eye-catching, flowering display in mid-spring. It is a cultivar of the species Pyrus calleryana (Callery Pear) that is native to Taiwan and China. This flowering pear is a small, thornless, deciduous ornamental tree with a uniform oval, pyramidal crown. It grows to a height of 25-35 feet with a spread of 20-25 feet.

The leaves of the Aristocrat Flowering Pear are glossy and dark green with a narrowly oval shape. They grow up to 3 inches long with undulating margins. In the fall, the foliage turns deep red with shades of purple and burnt orange.

The blooms arrive in mid spring, covering the crown in a profusion of white flowers with purple anthers. Following the blooms are tiny, rounded pear fruits that are hard and inedible. They are attractive to songbirds and other wildlife.

The Aristocrat Flowering Pear tree is adaptable to urban conditions. It is somewhat drought tolerant once established and tolerates pollution well, making this tree suitable for planting as a street tree.

It can be susceptible to fireblight and also to branches breaking in strong winds or ice storms. But it is stronger than other Pyrus calleryana cultivars, such as ‘Bradford’.

Description

Height: 25-35 ft.
Width: 20-25 ft.
Shape: Rounded
Flower Color: White
Flowering Time: April
Fall Color: Red
Features: Showy spring flowers, good fall color
Exposure: Full Sun
Watering: Moderate & Regular, tolerates drought
Soil: Prefers rich, well-drained soils with consistent moisture. Tolerates most types of soil, including clay and a range of pH.
Growth Rate: Fast
USDA Zones: 5-9
Uses: Accent tree, lawn tree, park tree, street tree, lining walkways, wildlife gardens
Similar Trees: Capital Flowering Pear (Pyrus calleryana ‘Capital’), Cleveland Select Flowering Pear (Pyrus calleryana ‘Cleveland Select’), Redspire Flowering Pear (Pyrus calleryana ‘Redspire’)

Additional information

Shape

Rounded

Flower Color

White

Flowering Time

April

Fall Color

Red

Growth Rate

Fast

Uses

Accent Tree, Lawn Tree, Lining Walkways, Park Tree, Street Tree, Wildlife Gardens

USDA Zones

5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Mature Height

20'-30', 30'-40'

Mature Width

20'-30'

Exposure

Full Sun

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