Many homeowners plant Bradford pear to show off its beautiful white flowers, but it is actually an invasive species! Image: Dow Gardens, Dow Gardens, Bugwood.org Many people in the Carolinas have Bradford pear trees, cultivars of Callery pear (Pyrus calleryana), decorating their yards. And we can’t blame them for being attracted to these trees! Their beautiful, snowy white flowers land them spots in many yards. However, many people don’t realize that they are actually invasive species. While these trees are sure to add some beauty to your yard, they also cause many ecological issues, so it is important to plant native trees instead. Luckily, there are plenty of native look-a-likes that can spruce up your yard. What is Callery 'Bradford' pear? Callery pear is a deciduous tree. It has light gray bark along with white flowers that appear before leaves from April to May. It also has olive-brown fruits that are present from May to July. Native to China, this tree was introduced to the United States in 1917. It was originally introduced for hybridization experiments that were meant to improve the disease resistance of fruiting pear trees. Many cultivars of the Callery pear exist, each of which have different characteristics that contribute to the “invasive” status. In the 1950s, the Bradford cultivar was planted in many areas across the U.S., and many other cultivars have been created since then. Why is Bradford pear invasive? It was originally thought that the trees were sterile, but they have recently spread. Even though individual cultivars are considered self-sterile, different cultivars that are planted near each other can cross-pollinate and produce viable fruits and seeds! As a result, these fertile fruits can spread when birds and other animals eat and distribute them, effectively increasing the range of the species. The tree can spread quickly, forming dense groups and outcompeting native plants. In the forest, these trees produce leaves earlier than native trees, allowing Bradford pear to shade out wildflowers. The tree is adapted to many conditions like drought and heat, allowing it to escape cultivation. It grows best in the sun but can tolerate some shading. Not only does the tree cause harm to our native ecosystems, but it also impacts people. The tree is structurally weak, breaking readily from weather conditions like ice, snow, or wind. Homeowners are often annoyed when their Callery pear trees fall after a storm. Further, the tree produces large thorns that can cause significant damage to equipment when people try to remove them. Many land managers have spent large sums of money replacing popped tires on their tractors or other equipment as a result of Callery pear. Bradford pear is often structurally weak and prone to falling or splitting after a storm. Image:Rebekah D. Wallace, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org What can you do to help? Considering all of the damage it causes, it may be time for Bradford pear to go! There are many beautiful native trees that can replace your Bradford pear trees. Save yourself the annoyance of dealing with downed Bradford pear trees and help out our native ecosystem in the process by planting native species. Replacements for Bradford pear may include flowering dogwood (Cornus florida), eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis), American plum (Prunus americana), fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus), hawthorn (Crataegus spp.), and more. To help out, learn more about designing a native plant landscape and check out a list of native trees in NC. ReferencesMissouri Department of Conservation. (2018, January). Callery Pear. Retrieved December 02, 2020, from https://mdc.mo.gov/sites/default/files/downloads/callerypearinvasive.pdf#:~:text=Callery%20pear%20(Pyrus%20calleryana)%20is,of%20the%20common%20fruiting%20pear.
Missouri Department of Conservation. (n.d.). Callery Pear (Bradford Pear). Retrieved December 02, 2020, from https://nature.mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/callery-pear-bradford-pear NC State University. (n.d.). Invasive, Exotic Plants of the Southeast: Callery 'Bradford' Pear. Retrieved December 02, 2020, from https://projects.ncsu.edu/goingnative/howto/mapping/invexse/bradfor.html Shaughnessy, D., Polomski, B., Coyle, D., & Williamson, J. (2020, January 09). Bradford Pear. Retrieved December 02, 2020, from https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/bradford-pear/
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AuthorWe are a group of NC State University students committed to spreading awareness about the invasive species that inhabit or threaten North Carolina. Archives
March 2023
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