Prunus ID or otherwise..

[Robsterios]

Hi.. I purchased this - what I was told was Prunus - from the BSV show a couple years ago.
Just wondering if anyone could ID this species. It's a decent old tree but simply does not flower. It stays semi-deciduous.
Any advice would be appreciated. cheers, Rob.

Prunus1.jpg

Prunus1.jpg

[KIRKY]

To me the new growth and leaves look more like those ornamental pears. I have one years old has never flowered. Throws serious spikes nice Autumn colour.
Cheers
Kirky

[Robsterios]

To me the new growth and leaves look more like those ornamental pears. I have one years old has never flowered. Throws serious spikes nice Autumn colour.
Cheers
Kirky

The leaves are a lot smaller than a pear that I have, as you can see, quite pointy. A few leaves go reddish in Autumn but holds on to the majority.

[Robsterios]

BTW.. I do believe it originally came from Moongate.

[KIRKY]

Yes, mine too has the pointy leaves and semi deciduous. I think mine may be from a sucker or stock shoot as it doesn’t look like any of the flowering pears I have seen in my area. There are quite a few varieties of ornamental pears, like I said mine has never flowered in over ten years. I’m sure others here will have more info?
Cheers
Kirky

[shibui]

My first (and last) thought is also pyrus of some sort. There are far more species than the few we usually see - around 20 species according to Plant finder. I recently found a willow leaf pear - Pyrus salicifolia with long, thin, grey leaves. Had no idea what it was for a few months until the fruits developed.
Note that this tree is definitely NOT salicifolia but plenty of other Pyrus possibilities still open.
pears can be reluctant to flower until they mature and develop fruiting spurs. Regular pruning can delay the development of spurs.

[Akhi]

Maybe you should leave one branch to just grow out and hopefully it will flower. Will help id it and perhaps also tell you what it needs to be able to bloom. Love the narrow leaves in that tree.

[Robsterios]

Never thought of Pyrus but yes, I reckon your all right. Some variety. I would have thought though as it's quite old that there would have been flowers.
I have let it grow somewhat but it's a good grower and shoots get leggy so eventually cut it back as it's not a tree I'm trying to develop. I've considered selling if it doesn't flower but it's still attractive with it's small leaves and it's got to be 20-30 years old.
I plan on visiting the Moongate guys one day (when we're free..!!) they may know it's history..
thanks for the feedback..

[SquatJar]

As the saying goes, common things are common. Hence my best guess from the leaves would be Pyrus Communis, second guess would be Pyrus amygdaliformis. Chances are you're unlikely to ever know for sure as they hybridise and are both mildly naturalised in south eastern Aus.

Someone with nursery knowledge may have more information about whether yours matches any of the pyrus rootstocks.

Regardless it looks like wild pear can become attractive bonsai thanks to images I've seen from our European friends, even without flowers.

[GavinG]

I have one very similar that was grown from Pyrus root stock - vigorous, barks up well, colours nicely, does everything except flower... That's my bet for yours as well. Very similar leaves, smaller than the flowering varieties.

Gavin

[melbrackstone]

Just to add to the confusion, I have a grafted plum and the rootstock leaves look a bit like your tree...

[Robsterios]

Hi Mel.. I reckon the Pyrus variety is what this is. It's a bugger that it doesn't flower but still an attractive old tree. Hope your keeping well. Say g'day to Scott for me. Hopefully meet up next year in Tas.

[melbrackstone]

Hi Mel.. I reckon the Pyrus variety is what this is. It's a bugger that it doesn't flower but still an attractive old tree. Hope your keeping well. Say g'day to Scott for me. Hopefully meet up next year in Tas.

Okie dokie, hope it flowers for you one day Rob! Scott says hi. Yup, Tassie is hopefully on the list for next April!! Take care.

[shibui]

After SquatJar and GavinGs posts I checked some of the pear rootstock I have growing around here. They do seem to have variable leaves with a few longer, narrow ones similar to the earlier pictures. I believe a pear root stock called D6 was the most common variety used in Australia until around 2000. D6 is a Pyrus calleryana selection which will explain the slight differences in leaf shape.
Several other clones are sold as ornamental flowering pears in Aust.
It will flower. Just a matter of allowing/encouraging the fruiting spurs to develop and some time.