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Yahoo
18-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Some states issue bounty on handsome yet smelly tree
(NEXSTAR) — There is something idyllic about walking down a tree-lined street, especially in spring when blooms are bursting. It's why visitors from far and wide flock to Washington, D.C., every spring to admire the cherry blossoms. There are some blooming ornamental trees that, while impressive, have been found to be menacing to native species. They're so problematic, officials in some states have issued a bounty for it. The species, the Callery pear tree, has a complicated origin story in the U.S. Originally imported from Asia in 1909 for the Arnold Arboretum at Harvard University, the tree was again brought to the U.S. a decade later by the Department of Agriculture to help the common pear (a non-native but naturalized species here) develop resistance against a destructive bacterial disease. Once its ornamental value and hardiness were recognized in the 1950s, the Callery pear was used to develop cultivars, including the Bradford pear tree, according to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. You may be familiar with other cultivars that have since been created, including the Cleveland Select, Aristocrat, and Redspire. It was believed, initially, that the trees were not able to reproduce, which experts later found to be inaccurate as the species found a way to cross-pollinate because of the cultivars, Shad Hufnagel, Forest Health Coordinator for the Kansas Forest Service, told Nexstar's KSNW. While the pear trees have many apparent benefits — they grow quickly, can adapt to different regions, tolerate droughts and pollution, produce a dazzling bloom, and form a symmetrical shape — the Callery is less than desirable. They typically have dense growth and thorns, per the USDA, which can prove detrimental to equipment and livestock that encounter them. Their ability to grow among pine plantations 'can impede some forest management practices,' while their dense growth can block out native species. The Callery pear trees are also known to be weak, causing them to be damaged by storms frequently, experts note. $95M settlement over Siri eavesdropping claims approved: How to make a claim And yet, there's something worse about them: their odor. 'The fragrance of Callery pears has been described as smelling like dead fish, vomit, urine, and other undesirable things,' Ken Johnson, a horticulture educator at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, wrote last year. Nonetheless, the trees have rapidly spread across the U.S. and can be found in several states, primarily throughout the East. Some of those states are inviting residents to annihilate the trees, oftentimes in exchange for a preferred native species or even money. Earlier this year, the Virginia Department of Forestry offered a Callery pear exchange program, offering residents free 'native, young, healthy' replacement trees for the removal of the trees from their property. Hundreds of residents, who were responsible for all costs related to removing the Callery pear tree, took advantage of the program. Missouri's Invasive Plant Council offered a native tree in exchange for one or more Callery pear trees in April. The Kansas Forest Service expects to host a buyback program in the fall. Organizations in Ohio have launched bounty and exchange programs, some of which target other invasive species as well. Pennsylvania recently launched its own program to replace invasive trees and shrubs. Similar programs have been offered in South Carolina. Several states have outlawed the Callery pear tree in their state. It may look stunning, but officials want you to kill this bug if you see it Ohio became the first state to make it illegal to sell, grow, or plant the tree in 2023, followed by Pennsylvania and South Carolina in 2024. Next year, Minnesota will prohibit the tree's sale statewide. Starting in 2027, Callery pear trees and their relatives can no longer be moved or sold within Kansas. Callery pear trees are identifiable by their white blooms in spring, which typically come early and produce the aforementioned foul smell, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture explains. Its leaves are wavy, rounded to teardrop-shaped, and have fine teeth. Thorns can be found on branches and stems. Callery pears can also produce large crops of tiny, hard pears that are green to brown that become soft after the first frost. Come fall, the tree's leaves will be 'brilliantly colored,' if they aren't tarnished by frost due to their late color change. Johnson told Nexstar that while fall is the best time to do woody plant management, as trees are sending resources from the leaves back down to the roots, you can still take down a Callery pear tree now. He recommends cutting down the tree and treating the stumps with an herbicide, and watching for suckers — stems that can grow from the base of a tree or its roots. Why Costco, Sam's Club typically have lower gas prices than other stations While it isn't considered invasive in every state, including Illinois, and can still be purchased, Johnson noted the species does still have invasive qualities. 'Just because you can still buy it doesn't mean you should. We know it causes problems,' he explained, noting that that is true for all the cultivars of the Callery pear tree. 'Look for something else you want. Those spring blooms, redbuds, dogwoods, things like that, still have those nice blooms and the added benefit — at least they don't smell bad.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
18-05-2025
- General
- The Hill
Some states issue bounty on handsome yet smelly tree
(NEXSTAR) — There is something idyllic about walking down a tree-lined street, especially in spring when blooms are bursting. It's why visitors from far and wide flock to Washington, D.C., every spring to admire the cherry blossoms. There are some blooming ornamental trees that, while impressive, have been found to be menacing to native species. They're so problematic, officials in some states have issued a bounty for it. The species, the Callery pear tree, has a complicated origin story in the U.S. Originally imported from Asia in 1909 for the Arnold Arboretum at Harvard University, the tree was again brought to the U.S. a decade later by the Department of Agriculture to help the common pear (a non-native but naturalized species here) develop resistance against a destructive bacterial disease. Once its ornamental value and hardiness were recognized in the 1950s, the Callery pear was used to develop cultivars, including the Bradford pear tree, according to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. You may be familiar with other cultivars that have since been created, including the Cleveland Select, Aristocrat, and Redspire. It was believed, initially, that the trees were not able to reproduce, which experts later found to be inaccurate as the species found a way to cross-pollinate because of the cultivars, Shad Hufnagel, Forest Health Coordinator for the Kansas Forest Service, told Nexstar's KSNW. While the pear trees have many apparent benefits — they grow quickly, can adapt to different regions, tolerate droughts and pollution, produce a dazzling bloom, and form a symmetrical shape — the Callery is less than desirable. They typically have dense growth and thorns, per the USDA, which can prove detrimental to equipment and livestock that encounter them. Their ability to grow among pine plantations 'can impede some forest management practices,' while their dense growth can block out native species. The Callery pear trees are also known to be weak, causing them to be damaged by storms frequently, experts note. And yet, there's something worse about them: their odor. 'The fragrance of Callery pears has been described as smelling like dead fish, vomit, urine, and other undesirable things,' Ken Johnson, a horticulture educator at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, wrote last year. Nonetheless, the trees have rapidly spread across the U.S. and can be found in several states, primarily throughout the East. Some of those states are inviting residents to annihilate the trees, oftentimes in exchange for a preferred native species or even money. Earlier this year, the Virginia Department of Forestry offered a Callery pear exchange program, offering residents free 'native, young, healthy' replacement trees for the removal of the trees from their property. Hundreds of residents, who were responsible for all costs related to removing the Callery pear tree, took advantage of the program. Missouri's Invasive Plant Council offered a native tree in exchange for one or more Callery pear trees in April. The Kansas Forest Service expects to host a buyback program in the fall. Organizations in Ohio have launched bounty and exchange programs, some of which target other invasive species as well. Pennsylvania recently launched its own program to replace invasive trees and shrubs. Similar programs have been offered in South Carolina. Several states have outlawed the Callery pear tree in their state. Ohio became the first state to make it illegal to sell, grow, or plant the tree in 2023, followed by Pennsylvania and South Carolina in 2024. Next year, Minnesota will prohibit the tree's sale statewide. Starting in 2027, Callery pear trees and their relatives can no longer be moved or sold within Kansas. Callery pear trees are identifiable by their white blooms in spring, which typically come early and produce the aforementioned foul smell, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture explains. Its leaves are wavy, rounded to teardrop-shaped, and have fine teeth. Thorns can be found on branches and stems. Callery pears can also produce large crops of tiny, hard pears that are green to brown that become soft after the first frost. Come fall, the tree's leaves will be 'brilliantly colored,' if they aren't tarnished by frost due to their late color change. Johnson told Nexstar that while fall is the best time to do woody plant management, as trees are sending resources from the leaves back down to the roots, you can still take down a Callery pear tree now. He recommends cutting down the tree and treating the stumps with an herbicide, and watching for suckers — stems that can grow from the base of a tree or its roots. While it isn't considered invasive in every state, including Illinois, and can still be purchased, Johnson noted the species does still have invasive qualities. 'Just because you can still buy it doesn't mean you should. We know it causes problems,' he explained, noting that that is true for all the cultivars of the Callery pear tree. 'Look for something else you want. Those spring blooms, redbuds, dogwoods, things like that, still have those nice blooms and the added benefit — at least they don't smell bad.'
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Bradford pear trees look pretty and smell like rotten fish. They're also illegal. But why?
It's officially spring in Greater Cincinnati, meaning you've probably seen white-flowering Callery pear trees blooming all over the city. The Callery pear tree − also known as the Bradford pear tree − is a common non-native tree that has grown in popularity due to its pretty foliage. From white flowers in the spring to purple leaves in the fall, Callery pear trees are an attractive signifier that the area is entering a new season. But did you know it's actually illegal to plant, grow and sell Callery pear trees in Ohio due to their invasive nature? So why are they banned in Ohio? And why do they smell? Here's what you should know. Callery pear trees (Pyrus calleryana) were introduced by the United States Department of Agriculture as ornamental landscape trees in the mid-1960s, USA TODAY reports. According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the Callery pear was introduced in breeding programs in the U.S. because it was known to resist fire blight, a disease affecting pear and apple trees. It then quickly became a favorite in landscaping because of its adaptability, flowering, fall color and rounded crown. ODNR says Callery pear trees have numerous cultivated varieties that can cross-pollinate with each other and produce viable fruit. The most commonly used cultivar is Bradford. Other common cultivars include Cleveland Select, Autumn Blaze, Chanticleer and Whitehouse. The Callery pear tree is an ornamental species native to China and Vietnam. The Callery pear species is a medium-sized tree that reaches a height of up to 40 feet, per the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy. The tree has smooth bark that is grayish brown and becomes scaly with age. The leaves are typically a dark green color, with a round shape and wavy texture. During warmer seasons, the trees have white flowers that are "densely clustered with five petals" and have a "strong, unpleasant aroma, often likened to rotting fish," ODNR states. In the fall, the leaves turn from green to maroon, and the tree produces small, hard brown pears that are often eaten by birds. The trees also have "large egg-shaped" buds that are covered in light brown, woolly hairs and stout, reddish-brown twigs. Callery pear trees were often planted in "disturbed sites" and can be found around commercial spaces, residential properties, roadways and old fields. The Callery pear tree is considered a significant threat to native land and wildlife. As Paul Cappiello, executive director at Yew Dell Botanical Gardens, writes, Callery pear trees are "weak-wooded, poorly branched, and their flowers smell like a high school locker room laundry pile." Due to their resilience and the different cultivars' ability to cross-pollinate, a University of Cincinnati biologist found in 2019 that the trees were crowding out and eliminating native plants, wreaking havoc on the ecosystem. The seeds of these plants are easily dispersed by birds when consumed. As the trees spread, they tend to crowd out native tree species, causing millions of dollars of ecological damage annually, Cappiello added. Additionally, as the Ohio Department of Natural Resources notes, the Callery pear tree that helped spawn Bradford pears isn't just invasive, it can be dangerous as its fast-growing limbs produce weak wood that often breaks in storms and heavy winds. Yes, as of January 2023, it is illegal to plant, grow and sell this tree in Ohio due to its invasive nature. Ohioans are encouraged to get rid of them if they're found. The trees make for a pretty sight while cruising down a neighborhood street or strolling through the park, but they also produce a pretty bad smell. Callery pear and Bradford pear trees are considered malodorous, according to the Spruce, a home and garden site. The foul odor that drifts from the trees' white or pink flowers is used to attract pollinators. The unpleasant smell lingers until the white flowers fall off, per the Knoxville News Sentinel. Local tree services can help remove Callery pears from your yard. Once the tree is cut down, it's important to treat the stump, which might include grinding it down, digging it up or treating it with an herbicide, Greenville News reports. It's best to remove the tree early in the season before it starts producing berries. USA TODAY network contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Bradford pear trees are pretty but smell awful. Here's why
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Life finds a way: Why the Callery Pear Tree is such a problem in Kansas
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — They're a tree you won't see in many nurseries anymore. The Callery Pear and its variations are all over the state, with ongoing efforts by environmental organizations to remove them. Imported from Asia, the trees were originally used as landscaping for their more desirable qualities. They're big and round, with white flowers blooming in the Spring. But their drawbacks quickly became apparent, with the smell being most obvious. The Kansas Forest Service says for the Sunflower State the problem grows much deeper than that. 'It also has kind of a more ominous nature to it,' Shad Hufnagel, Forest Health Director for the Kansas Forest Service, said. 'They grow so aggressively that they will push out native vegetation and disrupt natural ecosystems.' The tree was thought to be incapable of reproducing, which was part of the appeal. 'These trees that were initially … independently sterile, have found a way to cross pollinate because of these cultivars that have been developed, including the Bradford Pear,' Hufnagel said. The Bradford, Cleveland Select and Aristocrat are some of the sub-variations (cultivars) of the Callery Pear. To mitigate the spread, the Forest Service are going so far as to renew their buy-back program for Callery Pears in 2026. The tree is well-known to nurseries in Wichita, like Johnson's Garden Center. 'I hate to cut down trees, but if they're causing problems then it has to be dealt with,' Ryan Johnson, Assistant Manager at Johnson's Garden Center said. He hasn't seen any this year, but Johnson frequently deals with customers looking to replace their Callery Pears. He and the Forest Service agree that these trees and their cultivars are ill-suited for the Kansas environment. 'For Kansas, at least. It's just very structurally not sound for our winds. [With] the branching structure, you can lose half that tree in a heavy wind storm,' Johnson said. Losing your pear tree doesn't mean there aren't options. Local nurseries offer plenty of other trees, perfectly suited for your garden and for the state. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
