Flowering Pear 'Cleveland Select': The Upright Ornamental Pear

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• Family:	Rosaceae (ro-ZAY-see-ee) (Info)
  Genus:	Pyrus (PY-russ) (Info)
  Species:	calleryana (kal-lee-ree-AH-nuh) (Info)
  Cultivar:	Cleveland Select

Overview

'Cleveland Select' (also sold as 'Chanticleer', 'Select', 'Stone Hill') is the **gold-standard cultivar of Callery Pear** (Pyrus calleryana), selected for its **superior upright-pyramidal form, strong branch angles, and exceptional resistance to fire blight**. It has become one of the most widely planted street and ornamental trees in North America—though its invasive potential now warrants caution.

Ornamental Features

Spring: Profuse, 1-inch white flowers in corymbs cover the bare branches in early spring—a brilliant white cloud. Summer: Glossy, dark green, leathery, ovate leaves (2–3 inches) create a dense, clean canopy. Fall: **Spectacular, long-lasting color**—shades of orange, red, purple, and scarlet, often persisting into late November. Winter: Clean, formal, pyramidal silhouette with attractive gray-brown bark.

Form & Structure

It grows 30–40 feet tall and 15–20 feet wide with a **dominant central leader and wide, strong branch crotches** (45–60°), making it highly resistant to storm breakage—a major improvement over the brittle 'Bradford' pear. It is essentially thornless.

Invasive Concern & Culture

**Critical Note:** Callery pears readily cross-pollinate with other cultivars and the wild type, producing **fertile seeds spread by birds**. They have become **seriously invasive** in many eastern and midwestern states, colonizing fields, roadsides, and woodlands. Many jurisdictions now restrict or ban sale/planting. Check local regulations.

If planted (where permitted): Zones 5–8, full sun, adaptable to most soils, drought-tolerant, pollution-tolerant. A structurally superior, beautiful tree with a significant ecological caveat.