Ussurian Pear (Pyrus ussuriensis)
The hardiest of all the ornamental pears, the Ussurian Pear has a round shape that it holds through maturity. The leaves are a glossy green in the summer and then turn to an attractive yellow to purple in the autumn. In April or early May the one inch diameter pink fadng to white flowers cover the tree prior to the leaves emerging. It is a very special sight. Unlike the Callery Pear, this tree does have some fruit . The 1 1/2" yellow-green fruit matures in early September. They are not edible and not particularly ornamental. They do have to be cleaned up when they fall with the leaves. Solitary trees do not fruit since cross pollination is required for fruit development.
Ussurian Pear Choices
Bailfrost (Mountain Frost TM) is a more vigorous tree with an upright growth habit.
Mordak (Prairie Gem TM) is a smaller, more rounded version of the species. Heavy production of white flowers in the spring.
Prairie GemTM was released by the Department of Horticulture and Forestry, North Dakota State University. It has an excellent oval plant habit becoming more globose with age and exhibits excellent foliage quality maintained throughout the growing season.
