Knowledgebase

Wild cherry or bradford pear? #784968

Asked March 24, 2022, 11:13 AM EDT

I noticed a small multi-trunked tree in my yard with white blossoms, I cannot determine if it is callery pear or wild cherry. The blossoms do not seem to have a fetid smell. I will remove it if it is callery pear. Barbara

Montgomery County Maryland

Expert Response

The flowers and emerging foliage look like Cherry (Prunus) and not Pear. It's not a "wild" cherry in the sense that it's native, as our native cherry flowers look different and bloom later. It's not uncommon to find what you could call "feral" cherries though -- seedlings from any of the various Asia-native ornamental cherries planted extensively in our region. They're not invasive per se, as they don't spread rampantly into natural areas, but they are known to sporadically appear in woodlands and other sites with soil disturbance (like highway roadsides).

Miri
Answered by the Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC), University of Maryland Extension. For timely gardening information and tips, subscribe to our Maryland Grows blog and quarterly newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Replied March 25, 2022, 11:38 AM EDT

Loading ...