Don't Buy "New Bradford" Pears: Choose Seedless Maples or Other Ornamentals

Question: Want 25 "New Bradford" pears (15ft, 42" root ball, $87 each) for KY farm. Seller claims they're worry-free. I'm 57 and want a lasting, low-maintenance tree.

Answer: No Such Thing as a Worry-Free Bradford Pear

"New Bradford" is still a Bradford pear—prone to splitting, short-lived. Better ornamental pears: Redspire, Aristocrat, Chanticleer, Cleveland Select (long-lived, strong branching).

For fast growth, fall color, no messy fruit: Sugar Maple (space 50+ ft). If you want flowers: Washington Hawthorn or Cherry.

Seedless maples (male or hybrids): Acer freemanii 'Autumn Blaze', Brandywine, 'Celebration' (seedless Silver Maple), Autumn Spire (columnar).

At 57, a 15-ft tree will double in 3–5 years—plenty of time to enjoy.

—Sean J Murphy | seanjmurphy.com