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Flowering Fruit Tree Blooms Changed Color

15 years ago

My father has had 2 flowering fruit trees in front yard since 1979. They're kind of overlapped in growth since he doesn't have them pruned properly or at all. What can I say.

One he said was Bradford Pear but they seem to have only white blooms from internet search. This tree has always had pink blooms.

The other tree is a Cherry tree that has always had white blooms and does again this year.

What could possibly cause the color or blooms on the supposed Bradford Pear tree (or any ornamental flowering fruit tree) to change from a pink rose color to near white??

The only thing that's different in the past couple of years is that I've cut off dead branches early in the year which is the time I read is appropriate to clean up these trees.

Any ideas or experience? The masses of pink and white blooms overlapping has always been a magnificent sight to behold.

We're just perplexed as to how/why the bloom color on one changed so visibly?

People have been telling my father for years that they're surprised these trees have lasted so many years but they've been beautiful stalwarts.

Thanks for any input you can offer.

Leslie

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Comments (5)

Iris GW
15 years ago
Pictures always help, even if it is just a picture of the leaves of both.
ahuehuete
15 years ago
Well, if they have been there for some long, maybe the soil is poor. Have them been ever fertilized? If the fruits grow and taste the same as normal, IÂ´m wrong, there is another cause.
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Iris GW
15 years ago
One possibility is that one tree has grown up through the other as a seedling. We have full grown "ornamental pears" on the side of the roads here - they came from birds pooping out the seeds of 'Bradford' pears and others.

In other situations, nurserymen have grafted two different trees together, creating pink and white blooms on what appears to be the same tree.

And I have seen people plant pink and white dogwoods in the same hole for just the same effect.
Dan _Staley (5b Sunset 2B AHS 7)
15 years ago
There has been an environmental change to which the pear responded. Many things to check off on the diagnosis but pics are the start.

Dan
MissMyGardens
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks you very much for your responses and interest in helping me solve this mystery.

The Ornamental Pear doesn't bear fruit that I can see. I see the cherries on the Ornamental Cherry tree because they're Robin favorites for eating.

We've thought and thought about what's changed in the last few years. The only thing that's changed in that spot is my father had to have a new septic tank installed on the far side from 2 trees right next to the Pear tree 3-4 years ago. They weren't sure they could save the tree but were able to cut a minimal amount of roots/limbs off one side to dig and install the new tank. The tree didn't show any set back the next year or since. They were especially careful about saving the tree.

I'm assuming the tree roots have grown into the septic area. I also assume something in what roots now take up from soil around is different in nutrient content. I'm ignorant about biology of how that would effect color of blooms but must assume both digging and septic installation changed soil structure and soil composition/texture around the tree.

That septic installation could be the obvious answer to changes in the tree even as far as blossom color. Can't think of another environmental change that's occurred.

You ask when trees were fed. I'm assuming my father fed them when they were planted in 1979 and maybe a few years after that. I don't think they've been "fed" in many a year. Tops of these trees exceed height of second floor roofline and their combined expanse is 2/3 entire length of main part of 2 story colonial.

I don't have a camera and if I did I wouldn't know how to post them.

Now that the rain has removed most of the blossoms guess I'll have to wait for next year to see if color change returns. Wouldn't want to do anything to damage the tree itself by experimenting on a 29 year old tree.
Well, thank you again for your responses. It was very kind of you to share your experience.

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