Ornamental Flowering Pear Trees - Pyrus Chanticleer
Pyrus calleryana Chanticleer is very popular with urban planners and small garden owners alike, though you might be hard pressed to notice that it is a pear tree, as its fruit are about the size of a large pea! Chanticleer pear trees are medium sized and slender, with a tight, upright crown that has been described as holding its breath - absolutely perfect for planting on the roadside. Its flowers kick off early in the spring, covering the tree in clusters of creamy white blossom that provide a good source of nectar for bees when most other plants are still waking up. The deep green leaves are neat ovals that end in a short point. When autumn comes around, they become a deep purple red that can shift to crimson or orange-yellow, depending on the soil conditions - in any case, its a great show and it lasts into early winter. The miniature pears are brown and quite inconspicuous. They tend to be eaten by squirrels and birds and while they are fine for humans to eat, they are so small that it isn't really worth the effort. If you want to experiment, freeze and thaw them before you cook them.
Pyrus Chanticleer is an exceptionally easy tree to grow with a long season of interest and leaf cover, so it is ideal for screening and roadside planting. It was bred in the USA by Mr Edward Scanlon, who used parent trees that were brought from China in the early 1900s by the famous Ernest Wilson, and has won the RHS's Award of Garden Merit.
Pyrus calleryana Chanticleer: Planting, Pruning and Caring for Your Trees:
These hardy trees aren't at all fussy - as long as the soil has good drainage, they will grow well in even the worst soil types, including compacted earth next to a road. They don't mind partial shade, though they will flower best in full sun. They are so compact that it is hard to imagine that you will ever need to cut them back but if you do, wait until all the leaves have fallen. Mature trees vary in height between about 10-15 metres, 30-50 feet.
If you are unclear about the way standard trees are sized, take a look at our Guide to Standard Tree Sizing or you can go back to our main standard trees page.
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