Capital Ornamental Pear

Capital is the narrowest of the common ornamental pears, which is why it ends up along driveways and side boundaries where nothing else fits. Pyrus calleryana 'Capital' grows to about 10m tall and only 2.5m wide, holding a tight upright column on its own without staking or shaping. White blossom covers the bare branches in early spring, the leaves turn red and purple before dropping, and it asks little in between.

Why you'll love it

• Ten metres of height in 2.5m of width. The column form solves a narrow side boundary, where a spreading tree would push into the neighbours.
• Two seasons of display. White blossom before the leaves in early spring, then red and purple foliage at the end of the season.
• Genuinely hardy. Frost hardy, drought tolerant once established, wind firm and content in poor compacted soil, including new estate ground.
• Fast to get useful. It puts on height quickly, so a screen or avenue reads as intended within a few years.

Where it works best

Driveways and avenues. Plant 2m apart for a continuous narrow screen, or 4m to 5m apart to read each tree as a separate column.

Boundary screening. A row at 2m spacing blocks a two storey outlook through the growing season. It is deciduous, so winter privacy comes from branch structure rather than leaves.

Feature planting in small gardens. A single tree in a courtyard or front garden gives scale and blossom without a canopy that shades the whole block.

Growing Capital ornamental pear in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun. It suits warm temperate, cool temperate and Mediterranean gardens, from Sydney and Perth through Melbourne, Adelaide and Canberra. Winter chill is what drives the strongest autumn colour, so in the warmest districts expect a shorter, softer display.

Soil. It copes with poor and compacted ground better than most feature trees, but it still wants drainage. On heavy clay, plant slightly high and break the sides of the hole rather than leaving a smooth pit.

Water and feed. Deep water weekly through the first two summers, tapering as the roots go down. A complete fertiliser in early spring is enough; heavy feeding produces soft growth that the wind whips.

Pruning. Very little. Remove crossing or damaged branches in winter while it is bare, and lift any low limbs you want cleared. Never top it, as that ruins the upright form you bought it for.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in ten sizes. The 200mm pack of six, 250mm pack of three and 300mm are young trees and the value choice for a long driveway run. The 400mm and 500mm are the usual single garden sizes. The 30L to 200L sizes are advanced trees with real trunk and height on day one, the option when the screen has to work now.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost. Expect a season of root establishment before strong height growth begins, and every tree is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Ornamental pear care guide
• Compare trees for driveways and avenues
• Choosing a tree to line a driveway
• Browse the ornamental tree range

Common questions

How far apart should I plant them for a screen?

Two metres apart in a single row. The crowns meet at that spacing and hold the narrow column, while wider spacing gives you separate trees rather than a screen.

Does it lose its leaves?

Yes, it is deciduous. The leaves colour and drop in autumn and the tree is bare through winter, which lets winter sun into the house behind it.

Will it grow in Brisbane or further north?

It performs best in warm temperate and cooler gardens. In subtropical and tropical districts the autumn colour is unreliable and other screening trees are the better choice.

How fast does it grow?

Quickly for a tree of this size once the roots are away, typically after the first full season in the ground.