Bradford Pear is a tree used a lot in Texas landscaping. The tree does have a big flaw, it has a tendency to branch out at one spot from the trunk. which makes it very weak and prone to wind and storm damage. All of the bowls on my site are from storm damaged trees.
A little history....
Callery pear is native to China; in 1918 seeds were brought to the United States for potential use as rootstock for cultivated pears. Of the initial batch of 100 pounds of seed that was planted at the Plant Introduction Station at Glen Dale, Maryland , one vigorous, non-spiny seedling was selected and named "Bradford".
The spread of callery pear along roadsides, rights-of-way, and in successional old fields was first noticed in southern Maryland and around Washington, DC.
In Pennsylvania naturalized populations are known in Bucks and Montgomery Counties. Naturalized populations generally exhibit characteristics of the species including wide-spreading branches and thorniness. Fruit size may vary from ¼ inch to nearly 1 inch in diameter.
A little history....
Callery pear is native to China; in 1918 seeds were brought to the United States for potential use as rootstock for cultivated pears. Of the initial batch of 100 pounds of seed that was planted at the Plant Introduction Station at Glen Dale, Maryland , one vigorous, non-spiny seedling was selected and named "Bradford".
The spread of callery pear along roadsides, rights-of-way, and in successional old fields was first noticed in southern Maryland and around Washington, DC.
In Pennsylvania naturalized populations are known in Bucks and Montgomery Counties. Naturalized populations generally exhibit characteristics of the species including wide-spreading branches and thorniness. Fruit size may vary from ¼ inch to nearly 1 inch in diameter.