Spring is a time to go outside and smell the flowers, buuuut perhaps not from a particular tree. The Callery pear tree (Pyrus calleryana), although full of beautiful flowers, can put off a rather interesting smell.
History
The Callery pear tree is native to parts of Asia and was brought to the Americas in the 1950s as an ornamental tree. It is named, similarly to many flora and fauna, after Italian missionary Joseph M. M. Callery. The tree loves sun and it is tolerant of urban environments, which is why they became so prominent in cities like Denver.
An Undesirable Tree
While bloom odors are just part of the plant's strategy to attract pollinators, the Callery pear tree has a particularly obnoxious smell that is sometimes compared to a certain bodily fluid. To make matters worse, the stench is especially bad when multiple trees are clustered together, which is exactly how they’re often planted in urban settings.
Are you familiar with the smell of a Callery pear tree? Tell us about it!
