A Cleveland pear is not a fruit tree. It is ‘Cleveland Select’, one of more than 20 cultivars of Callery pear (Pyrus calleryana), the same species as the well-known Bradford pear. It became popular for its white spring flowers and tidy shape, but like other Callery pears it is now considered invasive in much of the eastern United States.
The short answer: ‘Cleveland Select’ is a Callery pear cultivar. NC State Extension’s plant toolbox describes it as breaking less than other selections, with red, orange and purple fall color. But NC State Extension also explains that all Callery pear varieties can cross-pollinate and produce viable seed, and that the offspring are invasive. Ohio, South Carolina, Pennsylvania and Kansas have banned it, and Illinois will classify Callery pear as an exotic weed from 2028.
Where the Cleveland pear came from
NC State Extension explains that Callery pear came to the United States in the early 1900s to help breed fire blight resistance into fruiting European pears. Ornamental selections followed. Bradford, developed in the 1950s, was the first, and it was prized for early white blossoms, red fall color and a symmetrical oval canopy. Other varieties followed, including Chanticleer, Cleveland Select, Autumn Blaze and Aristocrat.
Because Bradford came first and was planted most widely, “Bradford pear” became a catch-all name for all of these trees. A tree sold or labeled as a Cleveland pear, Cleveland Select or Cleveland flowering pear is the same species.
What a Cleveland pear looks like
The features of Callery pears in general, as described by NC State Extension and Ohio State University Extension:
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Form | Uniform, dense, oval to pyramidal crown on cultivated trees |
| Flowers | White, five-petaled, in early spring before most trees leaf out; often described as smelling like rotting fish |
| Leaves | Glossy, oval, 2 to 3 inches long, with finely toothed edges |
| Fall color | Red to purple |
| Fruit | Small, hard, greenish-yellow to brown |
| Size | 30 to 50 feet tall and 20 to 35 feet wide for the species, per The Morton Arboretum |
NC State Extension’s plant toolbox lists ‘Cleveland Select’ with red, orange and purple fall color and less breakage. If you are not sure what kind of pear is in your yard, see how to tell which pear tree you have.
Is the Cleveland pear better than the Bradford?
It was meant to be. Bradford’s weakness is well documented: the University of Florida describes it as having long, untapered branches packed closely on the trunk, which makes it quite susceptible to wind and ice damage. NC State Extension says the toolbox entry for ‘Cleveland Select’ notes less breakage.
But a sturdier branch structure does not solve the bigger problem. NC State Extension explains that Bradford was effectively sterile when it was the only variety planted, because it cannot pollinate itself. Once Chanticleer, Cleveland Select, Autumn Blaze and Aristocrat were planted nearby, the trees could cross-pollinate and produce fertile seed. European pears and sprouts from the rootstock can also pollinate Callery pears. In short, planting other cultivars, Cleveland Select included, is part of what turned Callery pear into an invader.
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Why Callery pears are considered invasive
NC State Extension describes what happens next. Birds and other animals eat the fruit and spread the seeds. The wild offspring grow along roadsides, in fields, lots, wetlands and forest edges. They leaf out and bloom early, shading out native plants, and form dense thickets. Unlike the cultivated trees, wild Callery pears can have thorns up to 4 inches long, strong enough to puncture tractor tires.
The Morton Arboretum lists Callery pear as invasive on its own grounds and says the thorny thickets make physical removal difficult.
Is it legal to plant a Cleveland pear?
That depends on where you live. According to NC State Extension, Ohio, South Carolina, Pennsylvania and Kansas enacted bans on the sale and planting of Callery pear between 2021 and 2024, and some localities have their own restrictions. Ohio State University Extension confirms that Ohio has banned planting it. The Morton Arboretum notes that Callery pear will be classified as an exotic weed in Illinois from 1 January 2028, which will prohibit its sale.
Because ‘Cleveland Select’ is a Callery pear, these rules cover it. Check your state’s invasive plant list before buying any ornamental pear.
If you already have a Cleveland pear
You do not have to panic, but it is worth planning ahead.
- Watch the structure. Even a sturdier cultivar can develop weak, crowded branches. See how to prune a Bradford pear; the same principles apply.
- Watch for fire blight. NC State Extension’s toolbox notes Callery pear can be affected by fire blight, which can spread to pears, apples and other relatives. See how to treat fire blight on pear trees.
- Consider replacing it. NC State Extension encourages landowners to remove Callery pears and plant native trees instead. Several states, including North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky and Indiana, run “bounty” programs that give free native trees in exchange for removing Callery pears.
If you decide to remove it, the stump must be treated or the roots removed, because Callery pear resprouts. See how to get rid of Bradford pear trees for the methods extension foresters recommend.
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Controls Fire Blight and Bacterial Wilt, Stem Rot, Leaf Spot, and Crown Gall.
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MAXIMIZE YIELDS – This outdoor and indoor plant fungicide kills and prevents common plant pathogens, including powdery mildew, alternaria blight root rot, crown rot, and stem rot. When unavailable, use Earth’s Ally Disease Control, which provides the same proven fungicide protection.
Trees to plant instead
NC State Extension suggests native trees with similar spring beauty:
- Flowering dogwood for white spring bracts and red fall color.
- Eastern redbud for pink-purple flowers in early spring.
- Serviceberry for white spring flowers and berries birds love.
- Black cherry or Chickasaw plum where there is room for a wilder tree.
Native ranges vary, so check which of these suit your region. For help choosing, see how big flowering dogwoods get.
Key takeaways
- A Cleveland pear is ‘Cleveland Select’, a cultivar of Callery pear, not a fruiting pear.
- It was selected for less breakage than Bradford, but it still cross-pollinates with other Callery pears.
- Callery pear offspring are invasive and form thorny thickets.
- Several states ban planting Callery pear, and Illinois will from 2028.
- If you have one, prune for structure, watch for fire blight and consider replacing it with a native tree.
Sources
- Callery Pear: Bradford Pear, Other Varieties, and Their Invasive Offspring (AG-986), NC State Extension
- Pyrus calleryana (Callery Pear), NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
- Callery Pear, The Morton Arboretum
- Controlling Non-Native Plants in Ohio Forests: Callery Pear (ANR-0218), Ohio State University Extension
- Pyrus calleryana 'Bradford': 'Bradford' Callery Pear (ST537), University of Florida IFAS Extension
Top photo: Ltshears, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons