Bradford Pear

Pyrus calleryana

Commonly planted and persistent, now an aggressive naturalizer in fields, roadsides, and disturbed areas across most of our region. Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), South Central edition What its natural habitat tells you

-85

Severe harm

Not native to Mississippi. How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 76%

Height: 30–50 feet
Spread: 20–35 feet
Light: Full sun, Partial shade
Soil moisture: Somewhat dry to moist

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Do not plant. Listed invasive in Mississippi.

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Flowering Dogwood
Cornus florida
Sun: Full sun, part shade. Soil: Somewhat dry to average. Flowers: White.
Published recommendation: South Carolina Native Plant Society, Lowcountry Chapter
Dogwood anthracnose. Widespread infection by the dogwood anthracnose fungus has affected this species since the 1980s. Caution source
Dogwood anthracnose. Widespread infection by the dogwood anthracnose fungus has affected this species since the 1980s. Caution source
Chickasaw Plum
Prunus angustifolia
Sun: Full sun, Partial shade. Soil: Somewhat dry to moist. Flowers: White.
Published recommendation: Tennessee Invasive Plant Council (TN-IPC)
Inkberry
Ilex glabra
Sun: Full sun, Partial shade. Soil: Usually moist. Flowers: Green or white.
Published recommendation: NC State Extension (Simon Gonzalez)

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At a glance

Life cycle: Woody perennial
Leaves: Deciduous
Bloom: February to April
Fruiting season: August to October

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Recorded in 20 Mississippi counties.

Natural habitats

Places it grows wild. Not a planting requirement. Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.

Roadsides, fields and disturbed ground

Ground opened by people: roadsides, old fields, pastures, fencerows and lots.

All habitats

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

85CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including MS

Genus host records with ranges including MS · Pyrus

Acharia stimuleaSaddleback Caterpillar Moth
Acleris minutaLesser Apple Leaf Folder, Yellowheaded Fireworm
Acrobasis indigenellaLeaf Crumpler
Acrobasis vacciniiCranberry Fruitworm
Acronicta clarescensClear Dagger
Acronicta interruptaInterrupted Dagger
Acronicta oblinitaSmeared Dagger
Acronicta radcliffeiRadcliffe's Dagger
Alsophila pometariaFall Cankerworm Moth
Amphipyra pyramidoidesMiranda Underwing, Copper Underwing, Copper Amphipyra

Show all 85

Amyelois transitellaNavel Orangeworm
Anavitrinella pampinariaCommon Gray, Cranberry Spanworm
Antepione thisoariaVariable Antepione
Antheraea polyphemusPolyphemus Moth
Archips argyrospilaFruit-Tree Leafroller Moth
Archips griseaGray Archips
Archips semiferanusOak Leafroller Moth
Automeris ioIo Moth
Balsa malanaMany-Dotted Balsa, Many-Dotted Appleworm
Callosamia prometheaPromethea Silkmoth, Promethea Moth
Catocala crataegiHawthorne Underwing, Thorn Underwing
Catocala gryneaWoody Underwing
Catocala ultroniaUltronia Underwing
Cecrita guttivittaMaple Prominent, Saddled Prominent
Cenopis reticulatanaReticulated Fruitworm Moth
Cerma cerinthaTufted Bird-Dropping Moth, Cherry Agate
Choristoneura fractivittanaBroken-Banded Leafroller, Lined Corn-Borer Moth
Choristoneura rosaceanaOblique-Banded Leafroller Moth, Rosaceous Leaf Roller
Coelodasys unicornisUnicorn Caterpillar Moth
Coptodisca splendoriferellaResplendent Shield Bearer
Dasychira meridionalisSouthern Tussock Moth
Datana ministraYellow-Necked Caterpillar Moth
Dichomeris ligulellaPalmerworm
Ectropis crepusculariaThe Small Engrailed, Saddleback Looper
Erannis tiliariaLinden Looper Moth, Western Winter Moth, Lime Looper
Euclea delphiniiSpiny Oak-Slug Moth
Eulithis diversilineataLesser Grapevine Looper Moth
Eumarozia malachitanaSculptured Moth
Eutrapela clematariaCurved-Tooth Geometer, Purplish Brown Looper
Euzophera semifuneralisAmerican Plum Borer
Haploa colonaColona Moth
Haploa leconteiLeconte's Haploa
Hedya chionosemaTwin-Spotted Budworm, White-Spotted Hedya
Helicoverpa zeaCorn Earworm Moth
Hyles lineataWhite-Lined Sphinx
Hyphantria cuneaFall Webworm
Iridopsis ephyrariaPale-Winged Gray
Iridopsis humariaSmall Purplish Gray
Iridopsis larvariaBent-Line Gray
Limenitis archippusViceroy
Limenitis arthemisBanded Purple, Red-Spotted Admiral
Lithophane antennataAshen Pinion
Machimia tentoriferellaGold-Striped Leaftier Moth
Malacosoma americanaEastern Tent Caterpillar
Malacosoma disstriaForest Tent Caterpillar
Megalopyge crispataBlack-Waved Flannel Moth, Crinkled Flannel Moth
Megalopyge opercularisSouthern Flannel Moth, Puss Caterpillar
Moodna ostrinellaDarker Moodna
Nematocampa resistariaFilament Bearer, Horned Spanworm Moth
Nymphalis antiopaMourning Cloak
Oedemasia concinnaRed-Humped Caterpillar, Red-Humped Appleworm
Olethreutes malanaSlender Brown Budworm, Malana Leafroller
Orgyia leucostigmaWhite-Marked Tussock Moth
Orthosia hibisciSpeckled Green Fruitworm Moth, Speckled Green Quaker
Paleacrita vernataSpring Cankerworm Moth
Paonias excaecataBlinded Sphinx, Blind Eyed Sphinx
Papilio glaucusEastern Tiger Swallowtail
Parasa indeterminaStinging Rose Caterpillar Moth, Rose Slug Caterpillar
Phigalia titeaThe Half-Wing Geometer, Spiney Looper, Eastern Oak Looper
Phobetron pitheciumHag Moth, Monkey Slug
Phyllodesma americanaLappet Moth, American Lappet Moth, Southern Lappet Moth
Platynota rostranaOmnivorous Platynota
Prionoxystus robiniaeCarpenterworm Moth, Black Locust Borer, Cottonwood Borer
Prolimacodes badiaSkiff Moth, Skiff Caterpillar
Pseudexentera maliPale Apple Budworm, Pale Apple Leafroller
Pyrausta phoenicealisPhoenicean Pyrausta, Perilla Leafroller
Rhopobota naevanaBlackheaded Fireworm, Holly Bud Moth, Holly Tortrix
Scopula limboundataLarge Lace-Border
Sphinx drupiferarumWild Cherry Sphinx
Spodoptera frugiperdaFall Armyworm Moth
Synanthedon pictipesLesser Peachtree Borer Moth
Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformisEvergreen Bagworm Moth
Tolype velledaLarge Tolype, Large Lappet Moth, Vellada Lappet Moth
Xestia dolosaGreater Black-Letter Dart, Greater Spotted Cutworm
Blastobasis quaintancella

Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)

—BeesSoutheastern regional records

—Specialist beesPollen specialists

4BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

Recorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim · Pyrus

Aphelocoma californicaCalifornia Scrub-Jay
Catharus fuscescensVeery
Catharus minimus/bicknelliGray-cheeked/Bicknell's Thrush
Turdus migratoriusAmerican Robin

Hurlbert, Olsen, Sawyer & Winner 2021, Avian Diet Database, Scientific Data 8: 260 (CC0)

Direct food only: birds recorded eating this genus across North America. Caterpillars on host plants also feed nesting birds. NC Native Plant Society: butterfly gardening

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family: Rosaceae
Hardiness: Zones 5a–9b
Soil pH: Acidic to alkaline
Flower color: Cream or white
Fruit begins: August
Fruit ends: October

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope

Bloom · “Late February to April” · Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition · Carolinas and Georgia
Flower color · “Cream or white” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Fruit begins · “August” · Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition · Carolinas and Georgia
Fruit ends · “October” · Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition · Carolinas and Georgia
Hardiness · “Zones 5a–9b” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Height · “30–50 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Leaves · “Deciduous” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Life cycle · “Woody perennial” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Light · “Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial shade (direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
primary_flower_color · “white” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Soil · “Moist; Occasionally dry” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Soil pH · “Acidic to alkaline” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Spread · “20–35 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox

Also known as

Callery Pear

Conservation status

Mississippi rank	SNA
Global rank	GNR
MS status	Not verified
Federal status	Not verified

Conservation source Global and federal source