Callery Pear

The fruits give off the appearance of small brown marbles on the tree. The pears are mostly consumed by birds and bats, which help to disperse the seeds in the environment, allowing more of the trees to flourish. However, the species must be controlled and maintained. If the seeds disperse frequently, the Callery pear tree can become invasive in its introduced range, which includes the United States. Callery pears and other Pyrus species with which it has cross-pollinated can be seen in large swaths along roadsides and abandoned fields in the spring around New Jersey and the region.

A positive attribute of the callery pear is the colorful fall foliage. As the season’s change and the weather get cold the chlorophyll breaks down in the leaves. The green disperses making the yellow and orange color more visible in the pear tree. The leaves are originally simple leaf, teardrop-shaped, leathery, shiny, and green above while paler and duller below. This species is deciduous and drops its leaves later during the fall season. The bark of the pear tree has a rough texture and the color shifts from green to brown. The branches and twigs on the pear tree look similar to the bark of the tree. The branches have a slight brown color and usually end with small buds. There are multiple Callery pear trees located near Bole Hall.

To share a bit of history, during the 1900s the callery pear was introduced to the US from Asia to introduce new genetic diversity that might help fight off diseases, like fire blight. Now, the callery pear is commonly grown for ornament, and wood can be used to produce furniture. The tree’s life span ranges from 15 to 25 years, and it is considered a fast-growing species. I hope you’ve learned quite a bit about the callery pear; please thank Rowan University’s groundskeepers for taking such good care of the plants and trees around Rowan Campus. From spring to fall, they maintain the grounds by mowing, trimming weeds, removing leaves, and treating diseases and pests, so you can be sure the plants are in good hands. Please feel free to utilize the map and resources below to continue learning more.

These resources are a product of Dr. Sara Wright’s Plant Diversity course in the Biological and Biomedical Sciences Department, along with Mike Benson of the Campbell Library’s Digital Scholarship Center. Please explore the additional resources below, including a map and videos created by Rowan students that feature more of our campus trees. We hope our efforts allow you to better appreciate these seasoned members of our community, and we thank you.