Edgewood Ornamental Pear

Edgewood Ornamental Pear (Pyrus x 'Edgewood') is the pear to plant where you need height without width. It grows to about 8m tall and 4m wide, holding a tight upright frame that suits a narrow side boundary or a formal driveway line. White blossom covers the bare branches in early spring, the glossy summer foliage is clean, and the leaves turn deep red and burgundy before winter.

Why you'll love it

• Tall and narrow by nature. Roughly 8m by 4m, so it screens an upstairs window without taking the whole garden bed.
• Two seasons of display. A heavy flush of white blossom in early spring, then reliable red and burgundy tones in the cooler months.
• Fast to make a difference. It puts on useful height in the first few years, unlike most trees at this mature size.
• Tough where it counts. Frost hardy, heat tolerant, wind tolerant and drought tolerant once established, which covers most Australian conditions bar the tropics.

Where it works best

Screening and privacy. Plant 3m apart for a tall screen. At that spacing the canopies knit into a continuous green wall while each tree keeps a clean upright shape from the base.

Driveways and avenues. Stretch the spacing to 4m or 5m for a formal avenue, where the matched upright forms give a driveway a sense of arrival.

Small gardens and feature planting. The narrow footprint means a single tree can sit close to a fence or courtyard wall and still develop properly.

Growing Edgewood Ornamental Pear in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun for the heaviest blossom and the strongest autumn tones. It is at home in cool temperate, warm temperate and Mediterranean gardens, and the colour is deepest where winter nights are cold. In the subtropics it grows well but the leaf display is muted and brief.

Soil. Not fussy, provided it drains. Improve heavy clay with compost and plant slightly proud of the surrounding ground so water moves away from the collar. Mulch 75mm deep, kept clear of the trunk.

Water and feed. Deep soak weekly through the first two summers, then only through extended dry weather. A complete slow release fertiliser in early spring keeps young trees moving; mature trees seldom need it.

Pruning. Little is required, and the upright shape looks after itself. Trim in late winter while the tree is bare, removing any branch that crosses or breaks the outline. Staking helps for the first two years on windy sites.

What to expect when it arrives

We grow it in three sizes: a 400mm pot, a 45L, and a 300L for immediate impact. The 400mm and 45L trees arrive as slim, well formed young stock with a clear leader, and are the sensible choice for a run of screening trees. The 300L is a semi mature tree that delivers height on day one.

Trees travel upright and are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost. A tree that arrives bare in winter is dormant, not dead. Expect steady growth from the first full spring, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Read the full ornamental pear care guide.
• Compare varieties in our top ten ornamental pears article.
• Browse other tall and narrow screening plants.
• See more ornamental trees for feature positions.

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a screen?

Three metres apart in a single row. Closer than that and the lower branches shade each other out, which thins the base of the screen where you most want cover.

Does it drop fruit?

Ornamental pears carry only tiny, hard fruitlets, not edible pears, and most are taken by birds. It is not a tree that leaves a mess on a driveway.

Is it evergreen?

No, it is deciduous. It holds its leaves late, colours through red and burgundy, then stands bare for a short period before the spring blossom arrives.