Aristocrat Pear was discovered in 1969 as a seedling mutation. This cultivar will grow rapidly the first 7 to 8 years as a pyramidal tree. At maturity the tree becomes oval in shape and reach a height of 30-35 feet. The structure has a very strong central leader with firmly attached strong branching that resists windbreakage. Limbs swing upward for easy base clearance and may be pruned for extra clearance without harming the form or structure. When well established, Aristocrat tree is tolerant to wet or dry soils. Its hardiness has been tested into upper Michigan and New York, but it also grows well in California and Florida. -- HortScience, 1977. Selection in 1969 by William T. Straw, Carlisle Nursery, Independence, Kentucky; pyramidal to broad-pyramidal in outline, branches more horizontal and crotch angles wider, lustrous dark green leaves with a wavy edge and for that reason quite distinct from other P. calleryana selections; fall color is variable and ranges from yellow to red; trees not as good as 'Bradford', although advertised as having better fall color; flowers are more sparsely borne but still quite attractive; tends to maintain a central leader and shows great vigor for 6-year old trees may be 12 feet high, 10 feet wide with a 3 foot trunk diam.; 36 feet high and 16 feet wide after 15 years; thornless; shows about the same cold and heat tolerance as 'Bradford'; is more fireblight susceptible than 'Bradford'; fireblight in the Southeast during 1988 and 1989 was devastating on this cultivar, many growers refuse to plant it; in the North fireblight is not such a problem; flowers later than 'Bradford' and structurally has held together over time; on March 10, 1991 'Aristocrat' was still in bud while 'Bradford was in full flower; older specimens at Bernheim and Mt. Airy Arboreta and Arlington Memorial Gardens, Cincinnati attest to this; with time the central leader is lost and trees are 40-45 feet high by 20-25 feet wide; Cappiello reported 'Aristocrat' hardy at Orono, ME while 'Bradford' was killed. -- M. Dirr, Manual of Woody Landscape Plants, revised 1998.