Callery Pear at Yarralumla, ACT
Identification history
| Pyrus calleryana | 6 Sep 2025 | Tapirlord | ||
| Pyrus calleryana | 6 Sep 2025 | Mike |
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4 comments
Csteele4
wrote:
6 Sep 2025
This is an odd one. Identifying an identified tree in the arboretum? Do you have doubts? I'm a bit confused...
Mike
wrote:
6 Sep 2025
Sorry @Csteele4, I hadn't had time to provide information. This is an update to Pyrus calleryana (Callery Pear) which I made in response to increasing concern about Pyrus calleryana becoming invasive. In other comments about this species you can see it has been banned in some places overseas, and now it is getting government attention.
The trees planted at the National Arboretum are in bud and haven't blossomed yet this year. Photos 3 and 4 show the vigorous spiny growth from remnant roots once the trees are damaged.
@waltraud, @abread111, @Katy.
The trees planted at the National Arboretum are in bud and haven't blossomed yet this year. Photos 3 and 4 show the vigorous spiny growth from remnant roots once the trees are damaged.
@waltraud, @abread111, @Katy.
Mike
wrote:
6 Sep 2025
Pyrus calleryana has a reputation of bad-smelling blossoms. Related Pyrus ussuriensis also smells bad, but there is less comment on this. As Pyrus ussuriensis street trees are now in bloom I went to the Arboretum where I knew there was Pyrus calleryana, but it is not yet in flower so I couldn't make a comparison. There is possibly a month difference in flowering times of different cultivars. I suspect both species are invading our nature reserves, but I am unsure how to tell the difference.
abread111
wrote:
6 Sep 2025
@Mike
The key for Pyrus at https://keybase.rbg.vic.gov.au/keys/show/7463 has P. calleryana and P. ussuriensis distinguished by whether or not the calyx is persistent in the ripe fruit - persistent in P. ussuriensis. Not very helpful at this time of year. Also for P. ussuriensis says "Leaf serrations distinctly bristled at the tip"
The earliest of several cultivars of P. calleryana at North Watson is flowering now.
The key for Pyrus at https://keybase.rbg.vic.gov.au/keys/show/7463 has P. calleryana and P. ussuriensis distinguished by whether or not the calyx is persistent in the ripe fruit - persistent in P. ussuriensis. Not very helpful at this time of year. Also for P. ussuriensis says "Leaf serrations distinctly bristled at the tip"
The earliest of several cultivars of P. calleryana at North Watson is flowering now.
Location information
- Coordinates 149.066796-35.299732
- Altitude 589.0m
- Maps National Arboretum Forests
- Places Yarralumla, ACT
Sighting information
- At least 1 Abundance
- 5 Sep 2025 02:48 PM Recorded on
- Mike Recorded by
-
Collections
Discussions. Mike NatureMapr Canberra & Southern Tablelands Pyrus calleryana Sleeper Weeds - still being planted Other Trees Plants
Species information
- Pyrus calleryana Scientific name
- Callery Pear Common name
- Not Sensitive
- Exotic
- Medium weed or pest
- Up to 714.36m Recorded at altitude
-
In flower
- External link More information
Record quality
- Images or audio
- More than one media file
- Verified by an expert moderator
- Nearby sighting(s) of same species
- GPS evidence of location
- Description
- Additional attributes