Southworth Dancer™ Birchleaf Pear

Southworth Dancer Birchleaf Pear (Pyrus betulifolia 'Southworth Dancer') is an upright deciduous ornamental pear for driveways, avenues and front gardens that need a real tree. It reaches about 8m tall and 5m wide, opens with white blossom in spring, and finishes the year in orange to red autumn colour before dropping its leaves. Growth is quick for a tree this size, and it handles frost, heat, wind and dry spells once established.

Why you'll love it

• Two seasons of display. Clouds of white blossom in spring, then orange and red foliage in autumn.
• An upright, orderly shape. The narrow crown reads as formal in a row, which is why this pear is a standard choice for driveways and street plantings.
• Winter light in the house. Being deciduous, it shades a north facing room in summer and lets the winter sun back in.
• Genuinely low maintenance. Frost hardy, drought tolerant, wind tolerant and heat tolerant, with no serious pruning requirement once the framework is set.

Where it works best

Driveways and avenues. Space trees at least 5m apart to match the mature canopy width, or 6m to 7m if you want each crown to stand clear rather than form a continuous line.

Shade tree for a lawn or courtyard. At 8m with a 5m spread it throws useful summer shade over an outdoor area without the bulk of a full sized shade tree.

Feature planting. A single specimen suits a front lawn where the blossom and autumn colour are seen from the street.

Growing Southworth Dancer Birchleaf Pear in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun, with room overhead. It is a cool temperate, warm temperate and Mediterranean tree, suiting Melbourne, Adelaide, Canberra, Sydney and the tablelands. It needs winter chill to colour and flower well, so it is not a choice for tropical or subtropical gardens.

Soil. Adaptable, and more forgiving of heavy ground than most ornamental trees, but it still wants drainage. Dig a hole twice the width of the root ball, backfill with the existing soil rather than pure compost, and mulch 75mm deep clear of the trunk.

Water and feed. Deep soak weekly through the first two summers, then only in prolonged dry weather. A complete slow release fertiliser in early spring is enough. Note that it can eventually exceed 10m on deep, rich, well watered soils.

Pruning. Prune in winter while dormant. Remove crossing branches and any competing leader in the first few years to establish a single strong trunk, then leave it largely alone.

What to expect when it arrives

This is sold as advanced stock only: 400mm pots, then 45L, 100L and 200L. Even the smallest is a substantial tree with a formed trunk, and the 100L and 200L sizes give immediate height on a driveway.

If it arrives in the cooler months it may be bare of leaves, which is normal for a deciduous tree in dormancy and not a fault. Stake advanced trees for two years against wind rock. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95; advanced and large stock is freighted at cost. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Compare the top ornamental pear varieties
• Browse trees suited to driveways and avenues.
• See the full ornamental tree range.
• Find more plants with autumn colour.

Common questions

How far apart should I plant an avenue?

Five metres apart gives a continuous canopy line along a driveway. Stretch to 6m or 7m if you prefer each tree to keep its own distinct shape.

How big will it actually get?

Expect about 8m tall and 5m wide in an average garden. On deep, rich soil with reliable water it can pass 10m, so allow overhead clearance from power lines and eaves.

Will it colour up in a warm climate?

Autumn colour depends on cold nights. In Melbourne, Adelaide, Canberra and the tablelands the display is reliable; in warm coastal Sydney it is softer and later.