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The Bark on young branches is smooth and grey with conspicuous corky spots, but thickly corky and very rough to fissured on older branches and stems, which creates an aged look when grown as a bonsai.
The leaves are alternate, simple, almost round, hairy and leathery with raised venation on the lower surface.
The flowers appear before the leaves and are crowded in dense clusters at the tips of branches. The petals are white to light pink turning brown with age. This is one of the first trees to flower in Spring and is very striking from July to October.
The fruit is a hairy, semi-round capsule, surrounded by the dry petals. It is covered by silky hairs.
The habitat is woodland, wooded grassland and on rocky mountain slopes.
The Wild Pear as a Bonsai:-
It can be trained in various bonsai styles, moyogi being the most common.
Cultivation - easily grown from seeds and cuttings.
Sow fresh seed during September in a mixture of river sand and compost. Transplant at the 2-leaf stage.
Cuttings taken in Spring should be planted into river sand.
The growth rate of the wild pear is very fast.
Leaf reduction is good. After 2-3 years the leaves become quite small.
The bark on the trunk and main branches becomes corky after 2-3 years and in older trunks becomes deeply fissured into irregular long blocks.
Growing mix:- likes a light, friable growing medium.
Watering and Fertilising:- follow your normal routines.
Position:- can take full sun and is frost resistant.
Interesting Features include -Butterflies are attracted to the flowers.
This tree was widely used for medicinal purposes, the flowers being made into a love potion.
The wood is heavy, tough and strong and is used to make mine props and yokes. The bark fibre is used to make rope.
It is the favourite food of porcupines.
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