Pyrus salicifolia aka Willow Leaf Pear

Pyrus salicifolia is a deciduous tree in the rose family. Its names include willow-leaved pear and willow leaf pear. It comes from temperate parts of western Asia. Its range includes northeastern Turkey, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. It also grows wild in northwestern Iran. Wild trees grow on dry, stony ground and woodland edges. This species is not native to Britain or Ireland.

The tree has a broad crown and branches that spread. Garden trees reach about 13–26 feet (4–8 m) tall and wide. They take about 10–20 years to reach their full size. The thin leaves have a lance shape, like willow leaves. Each leaf can reach about 3.5 inches (9 cm) long. A grey, felt-like coat gives the leaves a silver look. The tree also bears thorns. Its shape adds interest in winter, after the leaves fall.

Cream to greenish-white flowers open in April and May. Small green pears grow after the spring blooms. These fruits measure about 0.8–1.2 inches (2–3 cm) long. Sources do not agree on whether people should eat them. Plants For A Future lists the fruit as edible. It says people can eat it raw or cooked. It calls the fruit harsh but says bletting improves it. Bletting means letting the fruit soften. The RHS warns people not to eat this ornamental fruit. Its warning also applies to pets. Treat these mixed accounts with care. Do not assume the fruit is safe.

Grow this pear in full sun and rich, well-drained soil. It suits clay, loam, or sand that drains well. It can grow in acid, neutral, or alkaline soil. The RHS lists sites with shelter and moist, well-drained ground. Missouri Botanical Garden rates its water needs as medium. Hardiness ratings are USDA zones 4–7 and RHS H6. Plant it as a single specimen or in garden groups. Its pale leaves contrast with spring flowers and green fruit. The RHS also lists informal gardens and wildlife gardens as uses. Its wide root system can help hold sandy ground in place.

Fireblight can cause severe harm in warm, humid summers. Scab, rust, canker, and powdery mildew may also occur. Other risks include blossom wilt and brown rot. Honey fungus poses a less frequent risk. Aphids, caterpillars, scale, and blister mites may attack the tree. Codling moth, pear midge, and slugworm may attack it too. To grow new trees, sow seeds in autumn. Other methods are chip budding in summer and grafting in winter.