Description
Pyrus – Pear –
There are about 45 species of slow growing, upright, mainly deciduous tree and shrubs in this genus. They occur in woodland, in rocky places. And on hillsides in Europe, Western to Eastern Asia, and Northern Africa. They are grown for their habit, fragrant flowers, and fruits. The leaves are glossy, alternate, very rarely lobed, ovate to oblong, elliptic, or oval, the margins often with forward pointing teeth, some develop yellow and red autumn color. The 5 petaled,, saucer to bowl shaped flowers, borne in umbel like racemes, are white, occasionally pink, and usually have red anther borne with leaves or just before them in spring. The fruits are spherical to typically pear shaped, numerous cultivars have been bred specifically for the production of culinary and desert pears. Ornamental pears are best grown as specimen tree, the smaller ones, such as P. salicifolia ‘Chanticleer’, are particularly suitable for growing in a small garden or espaliered on a wall or fence.
Grow in any moderately fertile, well drained soil in full sun. They suitable for coastal conditions and are tolerant of drought and atmospheric pollution.
Prone to caterpillars, leaf roller, blister mites, aphids, scale insects, anthranose, dieback, canker, scab, powdery mildew, and fireblight.
P. salicifolia – Willow-leafed Pear – Silver Pear – This spreading, deciduous tree from southeastern Europe, Turkey, and Iran grows 25′ feet tall and 20′ feet wide. From pendent shoots it carries lance shaped to narrowly elliptic, willow-like, gray felted leaves, to 3 ½” long, becoming hairless with age. In spring it bears creamy white flowers, 3/4″ across held in dense umbel like racemes of 6-8, followed by pear shaped green fruit, 1 1/4″ long.
Zones 5-9
