Chanticleer Pear

The Chanticleer pear (Pyrus calleryana 'Chanticleer') is the answer to a tall screen in a narrow space. It reaches about 10m in height but only 4m across, holding a naturally neat upright shape without being clipped into one. White blossom covers the bare branches in early spring, glossy green summer foliage follows, and the leaves turn red and purple before dropping in autumn.

Why you'll love it

• Tall and narrow without pruning. The upright habit is built in, so a 3m wide side boundary can carry a 10m tree without a yearly battle.
• Four distinct seasons. Blossom, dense summer green, autumn colour, then a bare winter frame that lets the low sun back into the house.
• Fast and forgiving. Fast growing, frost hardy, drought tolerant, heat tolerant, wind tolerant and content in poor soil.
• Very little maintenance. The symmetrical form holds itself, so pruning is a tidy up rather than an annual shaping job.

Where it works best

Screening and privacy. Plant 3m apart in a single row to screen a two storey neighbour or a view above fence height. The screen is densest through summer and open in winter.

Driveways and avenues. The same 3m spacing gives a formal avenue that stays clear of vehicles, and a matched pair flanking an entrance is a simple, effective piece of design.

Small gardens and feature planting. The narrow footprint lets a courtyard or townhouse garden have a proper tree without losing the yard to it.

Growing Chanticleer pear in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun for the best blossom and the strongest autumn tones. It suits cool temperate, warm temperate and Mediterranean gardens and is thoroughly frost hardy. Winter chill drives the leaf colour, so gardens in subtropical and tropical zones are better served by an evergreen screen.

Soil. Adaptable, including poor and compacted ground, as long as water moves through. Dig a wide hole rather than a deep one, and mulch to 75mm while keeping it off the trunk.

Water and feed. Weekly deep soaks through the first two summers, then it is drought tolerant enough to manage on rainfall in most seasons. A complete slow release fertiliser in early spring is all it needs.

Pruning. Prune in winter while it is bare, taking out crossing branches and narrow forks. Heavy pruning spoils the outline, so a light hand each year beats a hard cut every five.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in seven sizes, from 200mm pots in packs of six through 400mm, then 45L, 75L, 100L, 200L and 400L. The small sizes are the value choice for a long avenue and catch up quickly. The 45L to 100L range is the usual middle ground, already carrying a clear trunk and a formed head, while 200L and 400L trees are for immediate presence.

Plants are packed to travel upright and delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Our ornamental pear care guide
• Tall and narrow screening plants
• Trees that suit driveways and avenues
• Browse deciduous trees

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a screen?

Plant 3m apart in a single row. Closer and the crowns compete, pushing growth upward and thinning the screen at the height you need it.

Will it screen through winter?

No. It drops its leaves and the branch structure alone gives only partial cover from about June to August. If you need a screen every day of the year, choose an evergreen instead.

Does it get good autumn colour in a warm climate?

Colour is best where winter is genuinely cold. In warm temperate gardens expect a shorter, softer display, and in subtropical gardens very little at all.

Does it produce fruit?

It carries small hard fruit that is of no use in the kitchen. Birds do eat it and can carry seed, so check local advice before planting near bushland.