Origin

• Native to Korea and China, the Bradford pear was first brought to the United States from Nanking in 1919. It wasn't until 1963 that the USDA introduced the variety for commercial production. The Bradford is extremely susceptible to wind and ice damage and rarely lives beyond 25 years. Because of that drawback, several different cultivars have been developed. Some of those new varieties have become problematic in parts of North America and are now considered invasive species.
  
  

Benefits

• In the spring, Bradford pear looks like a cloud of densely packed, pure white blossoms though the flower's fragrance is often described as "rank." Blazing leaf colors of oranges, reds and even maroon adorn the tree in the fall. Bradford pears grow quickly to a height of about 40 feet and keep a neat, tidy pyramid-like shape. The tiny reddish-brown fruit attract lots of birds.
  
  

Drawbacks

• The dense, pyramid-like shape of Bradford pear leaves a very narrow area for branches to grow. As the tree ages and the crown grows heavier, stress and gravity begin to push Bradford pears apart. Wind storms and crippling ice can devastate these trees, which is why many specimens don't live long.
  
  

Pruning

• Arborists and other tree experts recommend that Bradford pears be pruned only by professionals because of the tree's structural issues. Pruning should occur early on in the tree's life to thin the canopy and provide properly spaced lateral branches along the central trunk. This practice helps Bradford pears to live longer but also leaves them looking bare in spots and misshapen. The best time of year for pruning is shortly after blooming, allowing plenty of time for the tree to recover before fall colors appear.