The bright white profiles of Callery Pears stand out from the edges of forests and yards in February and March in North Carolina. Take a drive around the 440 loop in Raleigh and it is a solid ring of these trees. Callery pear, Pyrus calleryana, is considered invasive in the Southeastern United States and they are continuing to show up in thicker and thicker stands every year. Residents in and around Lee County have an opportunity to act when the trees are in flower and easier to see, and replace this habitat-degrading species.
Where Did It Come From?
Callery pear is native to China and was released in the early 1900s for planting in Southern landscapes because of its vibrant, dense flower show and its fire blight disease resistance (not immunity!). The trees are easy for nursery people to propagate and the plants themselves are highly tolerant of degraded, urban soils and tough growing conditions. Callery pear cultivars, like ‘Bradford’ and ‘Cleveland Select’, were especially popular in the 1990s during the beginning of the housing boom. Since their release into horticulture, as more and more trees have been planted, more have been showing up in forest edges, unmanaged properties and home gardens from fruits eaten by birds. The trees are not long-lived and have weak wood that is prone to breaking and splitting during high winds and hurricanes. Despite the beautiful flower show, Callery pears produce an unpleasant smell and a lot of pollen, yet are not effective sources for pollen or nectar for native, North American pollinator species.
Bradford Pear Bounty Program in North Carolina
The Bradford Pear Bounty program started in South Carolina as a response to the alarming rate of spread of Callery pears into natural areas and unmanaged land. The Program raised awareness about removing them from our landscapes and incentivised action through a native tree give away. Their slogan is “Remove and Replace”. The Program has since come to North Carolina thanks to Dr. Kelly Oten with NC State Forestry Cooperative Extension. There are three Bounty programs happening in North Carolina in the spring of 2025: Wilson, Wilksboro, and Elizabeth City. You must take a before and after picture of the tree, and register on a website. We recommend that you use a certified arborist to remove the trees, and there are arborist companies that are offering discounts for program participants. Any cultivars of Callery pear qualify for the Bounty program.
What Can You Do
The short story is Callery pears are an invasive species that cause ecological harm by degrading habitat quality for native species, and economical harm because they cost money and time to manage and remove from property. Even though the trees are beautiful and may be in ‘good health’ in your yard, they are making viable seed that is spreading to nearby forests and other people’s property. You have an opportunity to make a difference in the overall ecological health of your community when you remove your Callery pear. Not only will you take out a known invasive, you will be replacing it with a native tree that will provide more ecosystem services to your local ecosystem.
Amanda Bratcher is the Horticulture Agent for North Carolina Cooperative Extension in Lee County.
