St. Louis, MO – They break easily in our Midwestern weather, some say their flowers stink, and the tree has become an invasive species. Now, a group is looking to help homeowners get rid of their Callery, or Bradford, pear trees.
The Missouri Invasive Plant Task Force (MoIP), in partnership with Forest ReLeaf of Missouri and BiodiverseCity St. Louis, will host a Callery pear "buy-back" program in St. Louis on April 20. Homeowners will get a native tree of their choosing to replace it.
Native to China, Callery pear trees (Pyrus calleryana) include 26 cultivars that present significant ecological concerns in Missouri, says MoIP.
"Callery pears have been a tree many people have enjoyed for years," said MoIP member and MDC Community Forester Ann Koenig. "However, besides the fact that these trees often break apart in storms, and that they have foul-smelling flowers, it turns out these trees are spreading throughout fields and forests, causing problems in our more natural areas. We are excited to work with our partners to provide great, native trees to those who are ready to replace them."
You can easily recognize the trees this time of year because they form a very dense clusters of white flowers. In maturity, they reach heights of 30 to 40 feet. Property owners should cut trees during spring, when they are easy to identify, as a means to reduce populations from spreading in unwanted areas.
Participants of the buy-back program will receive potted replacement trees, donated by Forest ReLeaf and Forrest Keeling Nursery, in 3-gallon containers that stand between 4- and 5-feet tall.
For now, the buy-back program is only in the St. Louis area. For more information, visit moinvasives.org/
