Plants are Invasive Too!

[Johnsfolly]

I hate bradford pears. Hopefully there are no landscaping crews planting these invasive plants. The have a tendency to split, the flowers stink, when they becomed naturalized from the landscape hybrid, they are thorny sons, and will in a few short years crowd out many native species. We were driving through Delaware from a client visit and these guys were everywhere as well 😒

MDC encourages public to steer clear of invasive Callery pear trees Invasive species multiplies quickly and crowds out native plants. JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Spring is an opportune time to plant a new tree, but the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) encourages the public to steer clear of one species – the Callery pear. The Callery pear, also known as the Bradford pear, Cleveland Select, Autumn Blaze, or Aristocrat, is a non-native and highly invasive species that multiplies quickly and crowds out Missouri native plants. “The Callery pear became a popular ornamental landscape tree in the 1960s because it was inexpensive, it grew fast, and provided those eye-catching blooms in the spring,” explained MDC Forestry Program Supervisor Russell Hinnah. “But that’s where its benefits end. Different varieties of the tree were planted close to each other, which resulted in cross pollination and they took over natural areas.” The Callery pear is infamous for its stinky smell, but also has a poor branch structure. The trees don’t fare well in storms, often losing limbs or splitting apart. MDC encourages homeowners and landscapers to grow native when picking a tree to plant. “The best option is to select species native to Missouri, and there are many great trees to substitute,” said Hinnah. “Serviceberry trees produce similar showy white blooms in the spring and have small red fruits that attract wildlife.” Other great alternatives include American plum, hawthorn, eastern redbud, and Missouri’s state tree, the flowering dogwood. Hawthorns provide bountiful fruit and attractive fall color. Dogwoods thrive in shady areas, but can be difficult to grow. CALLERY PEAR BUY-BACK EVENTS Missourians with Callery pear trees on their property have the option to cut down their trees and receive a free, non-invasive tree at several “buy-back” events around the state April 26. The events are sponsored by Forest ReLeaf of Missouri, Missouri Invasive Plant Council, and MDC. Participants must register by visiting moinvasives.org. They will also need to submit a photo of themselves next to their cut-down Callery pear tree in order to receive one replacement tree. Callery pear Buy-Back events are planned for April 26 from 3 p.m. – 6 p.m. in the following locations: MDC Central Regional Office in Columbia MDC Cape Girardeau Nature Center MDC Shoal Creek Conservation Education Center in Joplin Lakeside Nature Center in Kansas City CommuniTree Gardens in St. Louis MDC Southwest Regional Office in Springfield For more information about the buy-back events and how to participate, visit moinvasives.org. To learn more about native trees for landscaping, planting tips, backyard tree care, and more, visit https://mdc.mo.gov/trees-plants/tree-care. PHOTO: The invasive Callery pear tree was introduced as an ornamental tree in the 1960s, but has since become an environmental nuisance. MDC encourages the public to plant native when selecting trees this spring. PHOTO: Native serviceberry (pictured) is a great alternative to the Callery pear. It produces showy white blooms and has small red fruits that attract wildlife. PHOTO: Missouri’s state tree, the flowering dogwood (pictured), is another native tree that produces beautiful blooms and provide ecological benefits.

[Dutch]

6 minutes ago, Johnsfolly said:

I hate bradford pears. Hopefully there are no landscaping crews planting these invasive plants. The have a tendency to split, the flowers stink, when they becomed naturalized from the landscape hybrid, they are thorny sons, and will in a few short years crowd out many native species. We were driving through Delaware from a client visit and these guys were everywhere as well 😒

MDC encourages public to steer clear of invasive Callery pear trees Invasive species multiplies quickly and crowds out native plants. JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Spring is an opportune time to plant a new tree, but the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) encourages the public to steer clear of one species – the Callery pear. The Callery pear, also known as the Bradford pear, Cleveland Select, Autumn Blaze, or Aristocrat, is a non-native and highly invasive species that multiplies quickly and crowds out Missouri native plants. “The Callery pear became a popular ornamental landscape tree in the 1960s because it was inexpensive, it grew fast, and provided those eye-catching blooms in the spring,” explained MDC Forestry Program Supervisor Russell Hinnah. “But that’s where its benefits end. Different varieties of the tree were planted close to each other, which resulted in cross pollination and they took over natural areas.” The Callery pear is infamous for its stinky smell, but also has a poor branch structure. The trees don’t fare well in storms, often losing limbs or splitting apart. MDC encourages homeowners and landscapers to grow native when picking a tree to plant. “The best option is to select species native to Missouri, and there are many great trees to substitute,” said Hinnah. “Serviceberry trees produce similar showy white blooms in the spring and have small red fruits that attract wildlife.” Other great alternatives include American plum, hawthorn, eastern redbud, and Missouri’s state tree, the flowering dogwood. Hawthorns provide bountiful fruit and attractive fall color. Dogwoods thrive in shady areas, but can be difficult to grow. CALLERY PEAR BUY-BACK EVENTS Missourians with Callery pear trees on their property have the option to cut down their trees and receive a free, non-invasive tree at several “buy-back” events around the state April 26. The events are sponsored by Forest ReLeaf of Missouri, Missouri Invasive Plant Council, and MDC. Participants must register by visiting moinvasives.org. They will also need to submit a photo of themselves next to their cut-down Callery pear tree in order to receive one replacement tree. Callery pear Buy-Back events are planned for April 26 from 3 p.m. – 6 p.m. in the following locations: MDC Central Regional Office in Columbia MDC Cape Girardeau Nature Center MDC Shoal Creek Conservation Education Center in Joplin Lakeside Nature Center in Kansas City CommuniTree Gardens in St. Louis MDC Southwest Regional Office in Springfield For more information about the buy-back events and how to participate, visit moinvasives.org. To learn more about native trees for landscaping, planting tips, backyard tree care, and more, visit https://mdc.mo.gov/trees-plants/tree-care. PHOTO: The invasive Callery pear tree was introduced as an ornamental tree in the 1960s, but has since become an environmental nuisance. MDC encourages the public to plant native when selecting trees this spring. PHOTO: Native serviceberry (pictured) is a great alternative to the Callery pear. It produces showy white blooms and has small red fruits that attract wildlife. PHOTO: Missouri’s state tree, the flowering dogwood (pictured), is another native tree that produces beautiful blooms and provide ecological benefits.

They are everywhere in this part of the state.  There is s whole grove of them behind our police station.

[Johnsfolly]

21 minutes ago, Dutch said:

They are everywhere in this part of the state.  There is s whole grove of them behind our police station.

It was that way in Columbia as well. So obvious this time of year when they are all flowering.

[BilletHead]

          Going bonkers here too. Not in my neighborhood yet and really hope they do not show up. A few miles away a real nuisance. I checked one out close the other day. Since they are one of the first things to bloom, I wanted to see if bees were using it. All over the thing but they are not a good source of nectar and bees only use them when there is nothing else. I despise them.

[tjm]

Noticed on a trip to Joplin a few days ago that there 10-15 times as many this years as last  year and 10 years ago I didn't know what they were. Way more pears in the woods than I ever saw of dogwood. At this point it's a waste of time energy and money to have a buy back, although I would help someone by cutting some the things down. A drive over to Branson last year at this time convinced me that it's too late to close that barn door. Need a species specific disease or insect, but then that would go wrong too.  

[BilletHead]

         At one time power companies pushed planting them where folks insisted planting under power lines because they did not typically get too tall. They even gave them as replacement for trees they got permission to cut out that were getting into lines.  I don't know if MDC at one time promoted planting them, but they did promote multiflora rose and autumn olive. The multiflora push was before my time, but the autumn olive was not. I even bought some from them to plant. Now they have chained their tune on both.

[Johnsfolly]

5 minutes ago, tjm said:

At this point it's a waste of time energy and money to have a buy back, although I would help someone by cutting some the things down.

I have some great herbicide that I used to control the shrubs wanting to grow through our chain linked fence. Pretty sure that it would do a number on the bradford pears.

[FishnDave]

We had 2 Bradford Pears in the parkway in front of our house in Iowa. The smell wasn't pleasant, but also not overpowering.  Loved all the white blooms in the spring.  Attractive trees.  No problems with branches breaking or anything else...the only issue we had was the roots close to the surface would sprout suckers...and I never found any good way to keep them from doing that.  I could pull, break or mow them off, but they always came back.

[tjm]

1 hour ago, Johnsfolly said:

I have some great herbicide that I used to control the shrubs wanting to grow through our chain linked fence. Pretty sure that it would do a number on the bradford pears.

Not in the numbers I'm seeing, unless you put an army out and worked the country over a section at a time, grid basis. Then did an annual  follow up for several years.  No knowing how long the seeds can remain viable in the wild. Herbicide would probably be a better approach than cutting though if it prevented sprouting.

[fishinwrench]

I remember when those became THE TREE that everyone wanted in their yard. And around town squares.

They even had us going around town planting them everywhere when I was a Boy Scout. 

You can thank the biologists of the day for all of that !    And if you think biologists are any better in 2022 you're just dense. 😅

The things they are doing today will be the things that they curse tomorrow.  And I promise you that Hybrid Stripers will be one of those things.