Images of the Bradford pear tree (sometimes referred to as “Callery” pear) may appear in nursery catalogs cloaked in a solid sheath of white blossoms. Local nurseries sell them.
But buyer beware: Bradford pears may be a “wolf in sheep’s’ clothing.
Five things to know about the Bradford pear:
- The tree can survive in drought, various soil conditions and spreads quickly through seeds from its plentiful fruit.
- It is invasive and banned in over a dozen states, with more states working on legislation, including Massachusetts and Missouri.
- Due to its fast growth, Callery pear often has weak structure and splits easily when exposed to ice and storms
- The flowers are said to smell like dead fish
- In Minnesota, nurseries can sell this plant during a three-year production phase-out period from 2023-2025. Beginning in 2026, sale of this species will be prohibited, and the species will be designated as a Restricted Noxious Weed.
Read what the MN DNR says about the Bradford (Callery) Pear.
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