Pyrus calleryana ‘chanticleer’

27 Mar

Pyrus calleryana ‘chanticleer’ summer (24/09/2009, London)

Position: Full sun

Soil: Moist, well drained

Flowering period: Spring

Eventual Height: 15m

Eventual Spread: 6m

Hardiness: 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

Family: Rosaceae

Pyrus calleryana ‘chanticleer’ is a deciduous tree with a conical habit. Its leaves are ovate, finely scalloped, and glossy they then turn a dark green when mature and yellow/ crimson in the autumn. White flowers are borne in umbel like racemes of up to twelve. Small spherical brown fruit follows these. This tree is grafted onto a rootstock to improve its vigor and this union can be seen at its base.

Pyrus calleryana ‘chanticleer’ flower (19/03/2011, London)

The species Pyrus calleryana ‘chanticleer’, commonly known as Callery Pear, is native to china. It has been extensively planted in America where it is used as an ornamental tree, despite the scent being unappealing to some people. The wood is also highly prized by carpenters, especially for woodwind instruments and veneers.

The etymological root of the binomial name Pyrus is derived from the ancient Latin name for the pear tree pirus. Calleryana is named for Joseph Callery, 19th century French missionary in China. ‘chanticleer’ is French for ‘sing clear’ it was given this name by the Scanlon Nursery when it was introduced in introduced in 1965 after being found growing on a street in Cleveland, Ohio in 1950.

Pyrus calleryana ‘chanticleer’ Leaf (03/07/2015, Walworth, London)

Pyrus calleryana ‘chanticleer’ is very useful to the landscape architect as a street tree due to its compact, upright habit, its tolerance of the urban environment and its resistant to disease. It is also valuable for its visual interest with its prolific flowering in spring and autumn red leaf colour.

Pyrus calleryana ‘Chanticleer’ Autumn (18/11/2012, Kew Gardens, London)

Ecologically, Pyrus calleryana ‘chanticleer’ is a source of food for birds once the first frosts softened its fruits and the spring flowers will attract pollinating insects.

Pyrus calleryana ‘chanticleer’ prefers moist, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil.

Pyrus calleryana ‘chanticleer’ requires little to no care although careful pruning in its early life will prevent weak forks that may fail in a storm from being produced. If dead material needs to be removed this should be carried out in winter.