Pyrus calleryana Chanticleer   - Poirier d'ornement, Poirier de Callery

Pyrus calleryana ‘Chanticleer’, called the ornamental pear or Callery pear, is a medium-sized tree with a narrow pyramidal habit. Its regular crown takes up little width and is well suited to urban gardens and alignments. In early spring, its branches are covered with abundant white flowering. Its glossy dark green foliage takes on flamboyant hues in autumn. Its small brown pears, more or less abundant, remain on the tree until winter. Once well established, this pear tree withstands dry summers and high temperatures.

Pyrus calleryana belongs to the Rosaceae family, like apple trees, quince trees and other pear trees. This species is native to China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan and Vietnam. It grows naturally in valleys, on slopes, in thickets and open forests. 'Chanticleer' was selected in 1959 by the American nurseryman Edward H. Scanlon, from a tree noticed in Cleveland, Ohio. It was then distributed commercially during the 1960s. This cultivar has received the Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society. It differs from the botanical species by its narrow crown, regular branching and erect branches. Its growth is moderately fast: at around ten years old, it reaches 8 to 10 m in height for 3 to 4 m in spread. A mature specimen measures 10 to 12 m tall and 4 to 6 m wide. The main branches rise almost vertically, then spread slightly with age. The crown, initially conical, gradually becomes more ovoid. The trunk bears grey-brown bark, fairly smooth on young trees, becoming rougher and scaly with age. The deciduous leaves are oval to broadly oval, finely serrated and tipped with a point. They measure 4 to 10 cm long. Their thick lamina, dark green and glossy, retains its beautiful appearance for a long time in autumn. It then turns yellow, orange, scarlet red and purple before falling. The flowering occurs in March or April, often before the full development of the foliage. The flowers are grouped in dense clusters of six to twelve. Each measures about 2 cm in diameter and has five white petals arranged around numerous stamens. They attract bees and other pollinating insects in early spring. This flowering is followed by the formation of small pears almost round, 1 cm in diameter. Initially green, they become fawn-brown at maturity and are covered with small lighter dots. Discreet, they can nevertheless remain on the branches until December. The root system of this pear tree goes deep, ensuring good anchorage and allowing it to draw water from depth. The species name honours Joseph-Marie Callery, a French missionary and botanist who collected this pear tree in China in the 19th century. Very hardy, 'Chanticleer' withstands temperatures of around -20 to -23 °C.

Unobtrusive and easy-going, this pear tree easily finds its place near an entrance, along a path or in a city garden. In a large sunny border, it can be surrounded by lower shrubs such as the Spiraea betulifolia ‘Tor Gold’ for its golden foliage covered with white flowers in spring, the Berberis thunbergii ‘Orange Rocket’ with orange leaves turning red in autumn and the Cotinus coggygria ‘Young Lady’ which offers large smoky pink plumes in summer and beautiful autumn colours.