Winter Glow Ornamental Pear

Winter Glow Ornamental Pear (Pyrus calleryana 'Winter Glow') is a tough deciduous tree of about 6m tall and 3.5m wide with massed white blossom in spring and an autumn display that refuses to end: the foliage turns deep burgundy and hangs on well into winter, weeks after other ornamental pears stand bare. For an avenue, a screen or a single feature tree in a frosty garden, it is one of the hardest working choices available.

Why you'll love it

• The longest autumn show. Burgundy foliage held well into winter stretches the colour season far past the usual ornamental pear.
• Spring blossom. White flowers crowd the bare branches in early spring, and bees and butterflies work them hard.
• Genuinely tough. Frost hardy, drought tolerant, heat tolerant and wind tolerant once established, so exposed sites do not worry it.
• Polite roots. A non-invasive root system makes it safe planting along driveways, paths and garden walls.
• Quick results. It is a fast grower for a formal looking tree, reaching useful screening height within a few seasons.

Where it works best

Driveways and avenues. Plant 3m apart for an avenue or screen. The upright habit and even growth make repeated plantings look deliberate, and the roots behave beside paving.

Seasonal screening. A row on the boundary gives dense leafy cover from spring until early winter, then a brief bare spell in late winter. If you need year round privacy, pair it with an evergreen layer or choose differently.

Feature and shade planting. As a single lawn or courtyard tree it earns its place three seasons out of four, with summer shade as the bonus.

Growing Winter Glow Ornamental Pear in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun. It suits cool temperate, warm temperate and Mediterranean gardens and positively enjoys frost. The autumn display is strongest where autumn nights turn properly cold, so it is not the pick for the subtropics or tropics.

Soil. Adaptable to most soils, from sand to moderate clay, provided water drains away. Compost through the planting hole and a wide mulched circle get it away quickly.

Water and feed. Deep soak weekly through the first two summers. After that it is drought tolerant and largely self sufficient, with a complete slow release fertiliser in spring if you want faster growth.

Pruning. Shape in winter while the branches are bare, establishing a single clean leader early. Mature trees need little beyond removing dead or crossing wood.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Winter Glow in 400mm pots and in 30L, 45L and 90L containers, so you can start with a young tree or buy real height on day one. It is deciduous: a tree delivered in winter may arrive bare or still carrying its burgundy leaves, and either is normal.

Trees are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost. Expect buds to move strongly in spring, and every tree is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Compare varieties in our top ten ornamental pears guide.
• Browse the wider ornamental tree collection.
• See other trees suited to driveways.
• Weigh up seasonal change with our deciduous trees.

Common questions

Is Winter Glow evergreen?

No, it is deciduous. What sets it apart is how long it holds its coloured autumn foliage, often well into winter, before a short bare spell and fresh spring growth.

How far apart for an avenue or screen?

Plant 3m apart. That spacing lets each tree develop a full canopy while the row still reads as a continuous line within a few seasons.

Can I plant it near a driveway or path?

Yes. The roots are non-invasive, which is one of the reasons ornamental pears dominate street and driveway planting. Allow about a metre and a half from hard edges as good practice.

Will it colour well in a warm climate?

The burgundy autumn show depends on cold autumn nights. In cool and inland districts it is superb; in mild coastal gardens the colour is softer and briefer, and in the subtropics it is the wrong tree.