Is this the worst Invasive Plant? - Bradford Pear

Is this the worst Invasive Plant? - Bradford Pear - In this video we show off what the hybrid Callery pear has done in the wild. This hybrid of the Bradford Pear is taking over large areas of land.
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[@itsjustjoe3790]

NC State has a Bradford Pear Bounty program that will provide natives for pics of before and after of the removal of 5 of them

[@ernestallen5154]

Ohio is doing the same. We have outlawed pears this year, but the law does not force you to remove existing pears. You just can't buy, sell or replant pears. My town cut down every one of our street pears, and there were a lot of them. Streets look so naked now. Don't know what they'll replace them with.

[@AmyEdwards-w5j]

Not for all counties... varies county/city to city whether the city/county is participating or not

[@ljones98391]

Jim: I'm glad you have posted this. Yesterday there was a lively discussion on Next Door following an Invasive Plant post by the State. Although there were a number of informed people there were also quite a few who thought it was shades of "fear mongering" and were pushing back. Any and all trusted voices will likely be needed to get the word out. Thank you.

[@RealBradMiller]

Lol, I got that pushback when I started talking crap about Bradford pears. It's promising people they are a bad tree, and there are trees that are more beautiful, well behaved, and useful to humans and animals, that do so much better.

[@nolanholmberg311]

@@RealBradMillerwhen I talk to people like that about bradford pear's I bring up how the government promoted it back in the day and I spin the narrative as the "good for nothing gubberment bringing this evil (communist) tree from CHINA (communist[evil]) which is using its COMMUNISM POWERS to overpower our native ecosystems" and then I say "if you leave your communist trees on your property which was recommended by the gubberment back in the day youre SHEEPLE and actually drinking the coolaid allowing these trees to invade your land" It's all about spin baby. You can't use logic and reason with people who'se critical thinking skills are non existing so you gotta dumb things down and honestly... just lie to them like fox news and they'll eat up everything you hear.

[@ernestallen5154]

Tell them, that Pear trees have taken over the state of Ohio. It is not fear mongering. We actually have pear forest up here. The pears are so vigorous that they out grow and force out our Oaks and Maples. Google Ohio ornamental pears.. We outlawed them this year. Ban them before it gets out of hand. We didn't expect this invasion either. It took 50 years for them to dominate the landscape.

[@LovelyIslandVacation-ch6wo]

I honestly think the people that act like they are so chill and not worried are the worst.. I watched a video about the invasive Asian jumping worms that have decimated my garden soil and are so gross they come to the soil surface and squirm around like foot long snakes writhing.. my perennials just fall over because the soil gets turned into coffee ground like crap that can’t hold any water.. and people online are like nah relax it’s just a worm they have been at my house for years and they are fine.. like no way they have the same worms I do because they have turned me into a garden box only gardener in a few years. I can’t stand digging in my garden in after July because they have by then gotten so big and numerous they chase me out of my garden. These invasive species/plants are no joke… we are not just over reacting and afraid.. these are real damn issues. It’s like reactionaries have taken climate change denial and applied the denial to invasive issues and are also gas lighting us about how not bad the issue is now too.

[@gardengatesopen]

I have jumping worms too. My soil sounds the same as yours. I too, am forced to grow in above ground containers, which is difficult in a hot environment like mine. I've talked SO MUCH about them, yet, not only do people ignore the problem just as you described, I rarely see or hear anyone else talking about them! I'm not taking those nasty worms sitting down. (and yes, they ARE NASTY!!) Nor will I let them chase me out of my garden. With the live ones, I just scoop them up and let them die in a jar with a lid. And I REALLY HATE having to mess with them!! When it comes to creepy bugs, I'm a total girly-girl. Same for these worms! I refuse to touch them with my hands. Luckily, I have a hand shovel & it works just fine! In the jar they go. Then After they're dead, I burn the lot just to make sure the eggs inside them don't live on, because those frckn eggs WILL hatch later! I also invested in some ground mustard seed meal to help me remove this year's live ones. I mix it with water, and then pour it into the ground, and the wiggly buggers pop right up to the top, ready to be scooped & burned. It's a really disgusting practice. But really, it's the eggs that are the REAL problem... They are tightly contained in a silk cocoon which is impervious to everything - except direct fire! But you can't burn your soil & they're impossible to see bcuz the eggs look like soil!! You CAN spread a clear plastic sheet over top of your soil and in the Summer leave it there for 3 days to reach temperatures over 135°f. Supposedly, that kills the unhatched eggs. (And kills adults too. But only if they don't burrow down deeper.) And so, I did do that ! Except, my yard is covered with very large, very old, Oak trees. Which have a canopy that covers 95% of my yard. This only leaves 5% full sun area that I can cover with the plastic. And shady areas do not reach 135°, even in a super hot day. And besides, most of the worms are all in the shade areas that tree canopy provides anyway! So unless I can dig up my entire yard, and then bake that soil in the sun for 3 days, I'm going to need a different approach. And physically I just cannot dig up my entire yard. And worse yet, those eggs are timed released, with some scheduled to hatch many years from now. Unfortunately, the research on how long those eggs last in the soil is still under 5 years old. So we don't have a clue. Except there's the mycology perspective... And in my research I've seen there's one type of fungi that is supposed to help keep these worms in check. The research is still early days. I'm hoping introducing the fungi to my soil will help me rid this surge from my land. Otherwise, my soil is doomed, and so are the trees which have been living here longer than 200 years, and now these worms will probably end up slowly killing them... But snyway, the name of the fungi is Beauveria Bassiana. If you've not heard of it, I recommend checking it out. See what you think... When I first found out about this problem (in my entire yard) of jumping worms, I admit, I felt completely defeated. It's a BIG deal ! After wallowing in depression for quite a few months, I just woke up mad & determined. At first I tried to figure out how to get rid of the jumping worms and still keep the good earth worms in my soil. (Which btw - tutns out, regular earth worms are also an invasive species. It's just nobody minds bcuz those worms are helpful!) But then I realized there AREN'T ANY MORE regular earth worms in my soil!!! These awful jumping worms have either killed them, or driven them out! So there's no point in trying to save them. They're already gone. Right now, I'm in the mind of ALL WORMS MUST GO! If I can get regular earth worms back again someday, so be it. Funny... I came here to mention a different invasive species that I wish the nursery trade would outlaw! And that's Ligustrums. Ligustrums are doing the sane things the Bradford Pear is doing. But now I've written this big old comment on jumping worms instead!! Man... I just can't shut up when it comes to jumping worms!! I wish more people were concerned about them... Meanwhile, hang in there!!! Don't give up on getting rid of them!!! Death To The J.Worm!!!!

[@annewolf7207]

Here's one tactic. My neighbor is a woodworker. He collects the Bradford pear shoots, dries them, stains and paints them, and makes them into magic wands, Harry Potter style. Every one is unique. Then he sells them at Renaissance fairs here in Maryland. They're inexpensive and very popular with kids and adults. Won't solve the whole invasive plant problem, but it's one creative step in that direction.

[@chrisholzhauer3698]

That's a great idea! Thanks for sharing.

[@TheKingOfInappropriateComments]

There are not enough wizards, are there?

[@elizabethwentz8211]

Yes, I live in southern Ohio and going to my kids in northern Kentucky, they live just south of Cincinnati,those trees are everywhere, really thick!

[@conniejohnson6120]

I had dozens of these pears cut down from my property when I moved in….seedlings from the Bradford pears lining the driveway of my neighbor two houses down. Years later I’m still battling sprouting on a few of the stumps. Horrid plants. The thorns are wicked and the flowers do absolutely reek! I learned these were “trash trees” 20 years ago as a Horticulture student. I live in SC where I’ve seen fallow fields turned to callery pear forests so I’m glad to hear there’s finally a ban.

[@SarahJeanMurray]

Thank you for highlighting this! It's disheartening to see how bad the problem is in a lot of local woodlands. Hoping that we can continue to educate people and get the sale of this invasive species banned and show people the benefits of replacing with local natives that are better for wildlife. I also only recently learned about the thorn problem as well.

[@hey51233]

Now that I have seen this video, I cannot unsee it. Just took a drive tonthe grocery store and all I recognize now are these trees. . .everywhere. You were not lying, Jim.

[@matthewheeke4377]

Bradford Pears are everywhere here in Indiana. I live right on the border of Indiana literally next door to Ohio and Kentucky. They are all over there too. My house has one that was planted years ago by my husband’s grandmother. It is a pollinator haven. The tree literally buzzes with swarms of bees and pollinators. Funny enough, it split a few years ago in an ice storm. Half of it is gone, but the rest is being cut down when my in-laws can get to it. I want it gone more than ever now.

[@jeantaeoneal]

When I was viewing my house in March 2020, I saw a neighbors teee in bloom and it was beautiful. Didn’t know what it was and didn’t understand why my realtor thought it was a bad tree! Fast forward 2024, they still have this tree. I guess it’s not common knowledge about this plant and they seem to like it cause they have kept it.

[@rima717nc]

I agree that the over-proliferation of Bradford Pears is a problem in central North Carolina. A shopping center near my neighborhood has 2 rows of them. The pear seeds have invaded an adjacent vacant lot, causing a thicket of Bradford Pear seedlings when the field is not mowed frequently enough. I wish that NC would ban these trees.

[@leslieburt9848]

I'm in Fauquier county Virginia and we also have a problem with Tree of Heaven.

[@bethlynch1909]

Over the years I've seen my small town and rural area be overtaken by this horrible tree. I'm in south central Missouri. At least the southern half of this state is overwhelmed. Nation wide steps need to be taken to get some kind of control but politicians are too slow to act.

[@pattik8335]

I believe they're starting to ban them here in Pennsylvania. Thank you for this very informative video, Jim.

[@GrowingAGreenFinger]

Quite a few around me. Usually just one or two in a yard. We have a lot more Chinese wysteria growing along the roads killing trees.

[@mrilovetheants]

I watched a group of these spread down the highway and I believe it was Fedex or the city finally paid to have them all removed. The first year they were all chopped down but they just grew back and spread even farther down the road. The second year I believe they chopped them down and then hosed the whole area down with herbicide and that seems to have controlled them. It's just a shame that had to happen because you can follow the invasion all the way back down the road the back of a parking lot of a grocery store where the initial trees planted have started falling apart in all directions and look awful. Some of those have been removed for looking terrible.

[@georgereid8947]

They are all over northern Indiana and southwest Michigan. Almost every fence row in the rural areas has pears growing along them.

[@terrivance8750]

Jim, Just shared this video w/ my friends on Facebook. Hope it helps. 😊

[@KimGreene-vk1yz]

Same

[@pennyduncan5980]

Thank you for a dose of reality and wake up call

[@prophetessoftroy]

We have a Cleveland, and unfortunately it’s in great shape. We were so excited to buy a property from an avid gardener, only to find that more than half of the well-established plants are invasive species on our state’s official no-fly list 🤦🏻‍♀️ I’m slowly taking them out and replacing with natives and other non-invasive alternatives, but it’s hard to convince my husband to pull out perfectly healthy plants, So I expect it’s going to take years.

[@markmorton5280]

As a fruitwood, it’s a good choice for smoking in the barbecue grill.

[@katherinecornette5315]

Ugh! I see it everywhere but thankfully not on our property. We have the darn privet trying to take over 😮

[@jcking6785]

A couple of plants that I think are on par with the invasive pear are the Japanese bush honeysuckle and creeping euonymus aka Wintercreeper. The latter two are incredibly invasive here in central KY in general and, in particular, in my neighborhood. I spend an inordinate amount of time removing them from my yard which is a losing battle because none of my neighbors do likewise. Just today, I traveled across the county and commented to my companion that the pears were just days away from bursting into bloom in nearly every open space and fencerow we passed. IMO, you were a little too kind when describing the smell of the flowers; they smell like carrion to me!

[@wmpx34]

Chinese privet is definitely worse down here on the Gulf Coast, at least in our neck of the woods. At least it doesn't have four-inch thorns though lol

[@KimGreene-vk1yz]

So we have ONE that we bought in 2005 and it's still hanging on as a WONDERFUL privacy block between us and the neighbors. What can we replace it with that would create a quick growing block? It only gives us a small amount of privacy and is part of an area we intend to create more privacy along soon as we figure out what we want to go along that area. It's overwhelming kind of. Mentally and financially. We can't put really tall stuff there because our home and cars would be impacted if anything fell.

[@ramgiberson7180]

❤hello, Khun Jim putnam and Stephany. Happy gardening 😅❤

[@ellieyoder7379]

I planted a Bartlett pear tree about 3 years ago but my dog chewed trunk then above that point died. Then next year a new trunk started grow that made me happy. Now I’m wondering that my pear tree is really a Bartlett after watched your video…😨 If it’s not Bartlett I definitely dig it out and throw in barn pile while it’s still kinda small….

[@johnhanselman6371]

Thx for the advice. I have a few on my property. I am looking at tall one through my window with white flowers as I am typing this. Mine are growing next to pine trees.

[@subtropicalohioplants267]

My guess would be that many of the plants getting displaced by the Bradford pears aren't native to begin with. At 6:32, the video mentions the pears shading out some blackberry plants, but are those native blackberry plants? The Himalayan blackberry is currently a highly invasive plant in the Pacific Northwest, which also forms dense thickets. And the issue with the pear tree re-sprouting after it gets cut down? This same problem occurs with the Amur honeysuckle and multiflora rose. Even the native black locust tree has lots of spines and re-sprouts from the roots and causes the most damage in warm temperate to subtropical grasslands on other continents, where the competing vegetation has little to no shade tolerance. Perhaps native invasive plants could help some of our native birds (with human assistance). The staghorn sumac forms dense thickets, produces berries that native birds love, and it adapts to all the pollution and compacted soil that most invasive plants thrive in. Some native plant species that are best adapted to human disturbance (high pH, compacted clay soil) include the black locust, northern catalpa, staghorn sumac, eastern red cedar, etc. The eastern serviceberry makes a nice native replacement with its early white spring flowers. Bradford pear is just the latest of a long list of invasive plants that have overwhelmed sensitive native species. They produce lots of berries, re-sprout from the base, form dense thickets - like most other highly invasive plants! Perhaps they might even displace other invasive plants that were there before.

[@throughtheenchantedportal6617]

I always thought the suckers that came up from the original tree were the problem. That even though the grafted part up top wasn’t able to reproduce. The suckers that come up at the base can reproduce. Is that incorrect?

[@egarciaeg420]

Lowes by me is still marketing them as "flowering trees"

[@karinyates]

Probably don't have to worry about it in Raleigh with the rampant development

[@zeroibis]

This tree will grow fast and then self destruct. But do not worry your new one will grow fast as a replacement. But yea I was actually looking at how many of these are in the woods just yesterday.

[@esthersnell2357]

Hi Jim & Steph! Just curious..there is no March checklist video, not doing the monthly checklist vids anymore? Thanks for all y’all do & teach us!

[@JimPutnam]

I was wondering if someone would ask. Thank you so much for following along. It may be more integrated into our garden tour videos like this past week's odd jobs video. I'm also announcing a big weekly garden planner on my website on the 17th.

[@esthersnell2357]

@@JimPutnam thank you for replying! I look forward to the announcement on the 17th, actually I look forward to all the videos! I can’t tell yall enough how much I enjoy & learn from yall. Happy Spring 🪴🌷 Our neighborhood has a couple of these Bradford pears & every time we’ve outside in our garden the stinky smell carrries in the breeze, yucky!

[@rachelsgarden]

I’m excited about the garden planner- 17th can’t come soon enough! 🌺

[@JimPutnam]

@@rachelsgarden Thank you so much

[@glenagarrett4704]

The Bradford Pear is horrible. Another in the same sort of category is the so-called Tree of Heaven. The BP has more seeds. Both are horrible for our native forested areas. ToH spreads by prolific runner propagation in all directions anytime it's disturbed, and II've also seen some reports that it's somewhat allelopathic, as well. Kudzu is worst in its category of groundcover/vine. Killing of ToH either takes years of diligent cutback and pulling seedlings or quicker by using glyphosate. ToH is everywhere here in VA. I'm appalled that the state doesn't do any prevention or control.

[@stephenshelton4267]

Is it more invasive than Water Hyacinth and the Golden Rain Tree?

[@JodiSamurai]

Ailanthus altissima I think may be more invasive in NC..

[@MelRaquel73]

I live in Pearland, Tx 👀🤣. (Near the gulf coast South of Houston). In my small neighborhood these trees line the street - one or two in front of every house. I don’t see this proliferation of them happening here for some reason - or maybe I’m just not looking in the right spots. I do not have one in front on my house and do not plan to get one. I’m just curious why we don’t seem to have the same issue. No other varieties to cross with? The heat? Interesting and sad to see what you all and the birds are dealing with.

[@persimmonpuddin]

7 in my yard. Removed 2, just have to maintain the others. They stink. they are ugly, hard to kill, suckers will impale you and i hate them. Must have been a sale at Home Depot the day the builders landscaped my yard. Had I understood 20 years ago I would have driven right by the for sale sign! 😢

[@SJudah-ox3hm]

These are all over my neighborhood. I had one split in the front yard from storms and half the tree stood up for a while. Now I have a stump, Is there a way to kill the rest of it by drilling holes in the stump and pouring something in it that isn’t super toxic? I have heard boiling water, but I don’t want to use gasoline which I have also heard. I want to create a little island where it stood, but I need to deal with it first. Helpful suggestions welcome!

[@LULC0759]

It’s sounds awful but we couldn’t kill a 60 yr old invasive Trumphet vine in my dad’s yard. We cut it to the ground, drilled several holes and poured in Round up…yes Round up. Nothing else was damaged in the area. Sometimes you have to go to extremes. Mother plant died but those underground suckers popped up in different areas occasionally.

[@alicehihn3250]

All along 81 in Virginia and North Carolina. Pennsylvania worse in my area.

[@LULC0759]

30 yrs ago I read Bradford Pears had a weak “crotch” and that’s why the broke there. We were told Cleveland and Aristocrats were safe. Here we are decades later with these issues. In Ohio it’s now banned to sell. It’s a shame the Cleveland is an invasive problem because it is pretty, ours never smelled bad. The new owners did remove it because it covered windows.

[@LULC0759]

Our past Cleveland pear didn’t have thorns. Wonder why. Neighborhood down from our home is lined with the Bradford. I doubt the HOA will ever replace them.

[@alanerpington5698]

I think it's mainly the young ones that have thorns, they lose them with age.

[@staciejackson7497]

Bradford pears readily cross-pollinate with other cultivars of callery pears and subsequently produce viable fruit. The ripened fruit is eaten and disseminated by birds, which results in very thorny thickets of wild pear trees.

[@markherbert1978]

What about an ascribed burn?

[@staciejackson7497]

Burning is being looked at and in some cases can weaken the thorns so they won’t possibly puncture tires as easily, but the trees resprout from the roots. They are looking at viable combinations of treatment, but it is a large expense and headache for whoever has to pay for it.

[@bettea360]

Haven’t seen them in Upstate NY.

[@sharonmitchel1377]

I’m in Oklahoma. YES, it is invasive

[@bjrockensock]

I believe the problem WAS that the trees used in the urban landscape were over-planted and not in a diverse enough mix. Historically this has happened time and again, where well-meaning parks or highway departments plant huge areas into monoculture plantings, and then a problem develops like an invasive hybrid develops or a disease pathogen (Dutch Elm disease) or insect infests (Emerald ash borer). It wouldn't be so bad in one or two trees but when whole cityscapes have to have their trees removed because of over-planting of a single, debile variety, problems inevitably develop. Strangely, they are replacing these monocultures with other monocultures one for one, like intense planting of Freeman maple to replace the Ash that replaced the Elm. The solution going forward would be to increase the diversity of the urban forest and utilize native species or their hybrid analogs whenever possible. The solution to the problem of Callery pears, or buckthorn (Rhamnus ) in the Midwest, is mechanical removal and herbicide, unfortunately, or we'll have to just wait for them to naturalize to a point where they develop a pest or pathogen that reduces their populations and hope it doesn't jump to other Rosids. Maybe these plant would make good biochar or charcoal for barbecues, develop the demand to fund a solution.

[@debbiewade1082]

the smell is ugh soooo bad

[@Ohiogardengoddess]

These are illegal to sell here in Ohio! It became a thing about a year or two ago!!

[@Old_Sailor85]

Stinky flowers, dirty tree, they split, nothing good about them. I guess they grow fast...

[@j.m.7056]

Invasive because ignorant builders keep planting them in my area in East TN!

[@ytubechannel997]

I wonder if a biological insect could be introduced that feeds on these trees?

[@meistergedanken4790]

Can't be worse for the woodlands than buckthorn or honeysuckle.

[@TheGeorgiaMediaGroup]

The smell is horrific. On these

[@ld5766]

Crape myrtle are just as bad to get rid of

[@warp9p659]

I'm in Arkansas, and those things are absolutely everywhere. The nurseries continue to sell bradford/cleveland pear trees too, and people are still buying them.

[@jeanniecollier6763]

I bought 2 trees that were tagged as Dogwood trees. I did not know they were Bradford Pears, so 4 years ago I cut them both down myself. Then I dug up an area about 4 feet where the trunk had been. I used roundup on that area, which I normally never use but I was desperate. Then, I would boil water at least once a week and poured it over the whole area. Sometimes I would mix white vinegar with the boiled water. Finally, this year, SO FAR, no signs of suckers. I will keep my fingers crossed. Thanks, Jim, for giving a very informed reason why this tree is so bad.

[@alanerpington5698]

Ugh, hate places that mis-tag things!

[@TheKingOfInappropriateComments]

Are you sure they weren't actually dogwoods? Dogwoods, especially the Chinese dogwoods look very similar but flower later in the spring.

[@jeanniecollier6763]

They were Bradford Pears as they were planted for 4 years, and the smell of the blooms were like rotten fish. When I became a more knowledgeable gardener, I knew I had to get rid of them, especially when they started splitting.

[@TheKingOfInappropriateComments]

Good decision. I know it's hard to remove established plants but you did the right thing.@@jeanniecollier6763

[@clairehenning2710]

We see acres and acres of Bradford pear trees here in north central Alabama in the spring. It’s a beautiful sight, but thank you for a better understanding of how destructive they are.

[@WendiGardens]

zone 8b suburb of Dallas TX. We purchased 2 1/2 acres in 2021 and immediately had to have 21 large trees taken out including having the stumps grinded, because they were dead and Bradford pears (at the time we didn’t know they were Bradford pears) and invasive mimosas near the house. It was a massive expense. We had 6 more trees removed and stumps grinded in 2022 and also last year in 2023. Now we only have 5 remaining large Bradford pears on property and including one that’s not as big near the house that’s an absolute menace in wind and storms and is the first one on our list this year. It makes me want to cry about the cost we’ve spent so far, and the remaining cost to come. BUT know that all the remaining Bradfords will eventually meet their end on our property. No doubt the spring bloom show is beautiful though.

[@marshawilliamson8602]

I’ve shared this with my Landscape Committee and the President of our neighborhood Board of Directors. Changes at the State level will be more time consuming, but making a difference in our own neighborhoods may begin today. 🌸🐝

[@kristine769]

It's truly a problem. There is farmland where wheat once grew, it's so thick with these trees that you can not even walk through. Now nothing else grows there here in Southern NJ.

[@taylorjwright]

Amur Honeysuckle and Bradford pears are quite a combo in the Midwest. It's hard to keep up with it all.

[@pameladeweese9585]

Yes, the word is out: our community dug out five and exchanged them for natives through a local program. Thanks for spreading the word- so very important.

[@swamp1foxva518]

Excellent followup on a interesting tree.. much appreciated...

[@threeriversforge1997]

Thank you very much for bringing this up. I'm in something of a battle with invasive plants right now - from privet to bamboo, creeping charlie to bradford pear. It's incredibly frustrating, especially considering how much money I've had to spend on just strong herbicides! My time is valuable. The money spent removing the invasives from the property is money I could have spent working on the house to get it ready to sell. And worse, none of this stuff is stuff that I've bought and brought in myself. Instead, like you note, it just shows up one day and then it's a struggle to fix it. People don't understand just how big an issue this is. Dr. Doug Tallamy has done a lot of good videos here on KZbin talking about the "food desert" you mentions. He calls it "Fragmentation" and I think that's an excellent way of visualizing the situation. As a former member of the Horticulture Industry, I'm really embarrassed at how bad a job we've done in not only educating ourselves, but our customers. When I was in school and learning all about the green business, there was no mention of native plants or the damage that fragmenting our ecosystem with non-natives would cause. Nobody cared. It was all about making the sales, getting that cash in so we could grow more for next spring. And the result is that we can now look forward to dealing with Bradford Pears, English Ivy, Tropical Milkweed, Ash Die-Back, Chestnut Blight, Russian Olive, Japanese Honeysuckle, and a thousand other invasive plants. Dr. Tallamy figured that 80% of the yards and business landscaping is non-native and/or invasive plants. And when you look at that from a distance, it means that we've actually done worse by our own land than all the burning of the Amazon Rainforest that people complain about. The difference is that the Amazon is charred and smoking. People can see that and immediately understand that it's probably not a good thing. However, when they look out their kitchen window.... they see lovely green plants growing and it just never registers in their mind that they might as well have simply torched the place for all the good it's doing for the ecosystem. I remember growing up and having to scrape the windshield of the car every time we stopped for gas. I thought the new cars were simply more aerodynamic and the flow of air was guiding the insects up and over the car, explaining why I no longer had to scrape bug "tar" off the glass. Unfortunately, that's not the case. Rather, it's because we've removed so much of the native plant life, fragmenting what remains, that now the insects don't have the food and shelter they need in order to complete their life cycle. And no insects means no food for the songbirds. Since the 1970's, we've lost 30,000,000,000 songbirds due to these "food deserts" we've created. No insects means no food for baby birds. Simple as that. It's good to see this getting more attention. I was just counting bradford pears on the way into town yesterday, and it's frightening to see just how much of the landscaping around here uses them. It's really sad when you think of all the great Native Trees that we could have used instead. Worse, imo, is that it kills the "Sense of Place" that makes our area so special. Now, you can travel all across the country and see people using the exact same plants, in the exact same way, and it really destroys the feeling of being somewhere unique in the world. Our landscaping really should be at least 80% native. Not only is this good for the ecosystem, but it's good for us in ways that we really can't easily put to words. And the horticulture industry really needs to do better on their end. None of this would be happening if they, as the professionals, were being responsible. I know that might sound mean, but as a former member of the community, I think it's important to say.

[@sherriianiro747]

Herbicides and pesticides are what's causing the demise of pollinators and birds, poisoning the entire food chain including our water and agriculture - far more damage than non - natives here!

[@gardenofshrubs5970]

Your perspective of standing in an empty lot, early spring is perfect…it lets everyone better understand just how many have reseeded and taken over. A couple years ago when I lived in the Chicago suburbs, I used to say the same thing…”drive by any empty lot or overgrown area in early spring or late fall, and you will see all the invasive pear trees.” From my observations, in addition to great fall color, the pear trees also hold onto their leaves much longer than most deciduous trees helping them standout in those empty lots in late fall/early winter much like in early spring.

[@asha8443]

I just saw a pear tree pop up in my backyard here in NJ..will be removing it this spring.

[@karenmoring8217]

Great information. So glad my neighbor removed all their Bradford Pears about 10 years ago.

[@marky3131]

Could not be happier that you chose to focus on this, or any, invasive. Your influence matters. Ohio, where I live, has finally made it illegal to sell this tree. Thanks!!

[@mudchuk]

With this having been considered sterile when it was released, should we be suspicious of new hybrids of currently invasive things that are also considered sterile right now? Nandina is the first example that pops into my mind.

[@threeriversforge1997]

Yes. Always. Remember, plants are never listed as "invasive" until it's far too late. At first, they were the talk of the town, the belle of the ball, and the whole industry waxed poetic over their virtues. As Jim notes, the first BP brought in was thought safe, but nobody thought about what might happen with it when years later they brought in another type of decorative Pear. Chestnut Blight, Dutch Elm Disease, Ash Die Back.... maybe those are honest accidents, but consider how huge an impact they've had on our ecosystem. Our lans are overrun with Nuisance and Invasive plants like bamboo, privet, holly, honeysuckle and a thousand others, and all of them were thought perfectly fine at the time they were introduced by gardeners of one stripe or another. So if someone tells you that it's "sterile", be careful. And opt for the Native plant that features you are looking for. 99% of the time, there's a native plant that's very similar in shape, color, bloom time, etc. At least that way you know you're not contributing to some future problem.

[@LULC0759]

@@threeriversforge1997what is a native replacement for Nandina?

[@threeriversforge1997]

@@LULC0759 Depends on what it is about the nandina that you really like. Is it the fact that it's evergreen? The berries? Jim just did a video the other day where he talked about the Viburnum obovatum "Raulston Hardy", which I think would be a good substitute since it's evergreen and has both nice flowers in the spring and berries for the birds. A dwarf variety of Ilex vomitoria might also do well, but that requires both the male and female plants to get red barries. The Yaupon holly makes a great native substitute for the boxwoods since it can be trimmed to a formal hedge. I guess it really comes down to thinking about what you like about the nandina and then looking for a native that best matches that feature.

[@SandraSElam]

I have grown nandina 'Firepower' (2' tall dwarf) for more than 10 years. It never flowers, so it has no seed. It is definitely not invasive.

[@threeriversforge1997]

@@SandraSElam I guess that's like the Bradford pear Jim talks about in the beginning of the vid. I have some kind of Nandina in the yard, and it's everywhere. Always popping up from seed, and I know I'm not the only one. It might be classified as a Nuisance plant rather than Invasive, but either way it's hard to get rid of once it's established in the seed bank.

[@katherinec7698]

We had one in our TX yard 20+ years ago, we also had 2 large dogs. After pre-mowing poop patrol I still smelled poop and couldn’t find any more piles. Yep, it was the tree. We cut it down.

[@lomax6620]

Quickest way to get rid of the Bradford Pear or any other invasive plant is to find a good use for it. Many years ago we had to drive 20 miles to find a eastern red cedar because they used them for fence post. Now that fences are built with steel post the cedars are thicker than hair.

[@jennifernash4638]

I had a bird- deposited callery pear come up in my yard, and man, those thorns were vicious! That one small tree took all day because I had to be super careful, so I can imagine without heavy equipment and some sort of plant poison, a stand like that would be hard to control. I feel like I do see more and more every spring - it would probably take the hard work and dedication of whole communities to get it under control and I still see Bradford Pears in landscapes all over Wake County, so the problem just goes on and on...

[@krystalynnx]

They are everywhere here in Memphis, Tennessee. Not even the Mimosa trees can catch up! 🌿✨️

[@ericjorgensen8028]

Agreed. I'm well North of you in suburban NY. These have been showing up along woodland edges and highway margins more and more. They probably don't seed as readily here, but unless the deer decide they are tasty it appears they will continue to spread. Maybe the spotted lantern flies will help slow them down. It is a tangled web we weave

[@ernestallen5154]

The only thing that will kill them is the bacterial disease, Fire Blight. Even herbicide is not certain and I don't think anything eats them. I haven't even seen any caterpillars on them.

[@toxicmale2264]

These trees are everywhere.

[@anitahadley2871]

We had 3 very large ones removed. They were always dropping limbs. We had the stumps ground but they didn’t get it all. So we went back and drilled into the large roots that were left behind and then applied the brush on stump killer, I forgot what it was called. That really helped a lot with the suckers. I had to keep on top of it for awhile and repeat in spots. Unfortunately my neighbor have 3 large ones and he did not remove his. The smell of fish is in the air.

[@taragoodloe4122]

Jim thanks so much for this video. I hope all states realize how big a problem this is. Here in Kentucky the Bradford pears are everywhere.

[@danaconstantine7005]

Here in the St. Louis area these trees are just as invasive as Asian honeysuckle if not worse! Both have to be completely removed including the roots or cut back and the stump treated so that the tree does regrow.

[@susandevinney5867]

We are having massive problems with autumn olive in michigan

[@kaylac3367]

Such a GREAT educational video! They are bad here in TN as well. 😢

[@susanbaker2796]

Thanks for this post, Jim. It is so needed. I live in the Charlotte area and Bradford Pear's are everywhere. Everywhere!

[@mavisjones4750]

I'm in Charlotte, too, and remember when Bradford Pears were all the rage back in the 80s.

[@susanbaker2796]

@mavisjones4750 Same, Mavis! Same. I planted three in 1987.

[@dia9491]

It’s sad but I’m glad you made this video. It’s important that people realize what those are. I’ve got one directly behind my house, every house in the row has one too. it’s technically in the utility channel so I can’t do anything about it. I even offered the city to pay for it myself and plant another tree but they said “no we have no plans for it.” The weird thing is they’re starting to spread and the utilities can no longer get into the channel. We have buried lines so if they ever have to work on them it’s gonna be horrendous. The spread comes closer and closer to the property line every year and I cut the sports because it’s dangerous for my son. He’s grabbed one of those thorns when he was smaller. I just don’t understand why the city still plants them to this day. They put them everywhere as if they have no clue how invasive they are.

[@j.m.7056]

They plant them because they are cheap and fast growing. I feel your pain!

[@francestaylor9156]

Our power company HATES the Bradford pears. They are a major cause of downed power lines. I guess bureaucracy is just that slow.

[@julieh2935]

Thanks, Jim and Stephany! This is an important lesson. I also hope that a control will be found or will naturally occur very soon.

[@savvydirtfarmer]

Thank you for posting this! Here in NW Alabama, it's the same as you. All over the South. Terrible plant, absolutely wrecking our woods.

[@scottbarboza1834]

I have a farm in Virginia that’s about 1/2 pasture and 1/2 wooded. My life is consumed by removing invasive species. Bittersweet, Autumn Olive, Multifloral rose, Bradford Pear, Alanthis, Wineberry, Stiltgrass, Honeysuckle, Johnson grass, Nodding thistle, the list goes on and on. They all have room to grow now that every single ash tree on the property has been killed by the invasive emerald ash borer. And last year, for the first time, spotted lantern fly showed up on the property in some numbers. And when I go to the nursery, it’s just row upon row of more and more exotic species, all of which has the potential to become the next Bradford pear. It’s all very disheartening, but a little better every year on my little corner of the world. But my goodness is it a lot of work!

[@trinityloewen8141]

I was just talking about this, this morning as I have 6 of them on my back berm. I was thinking of leaving one up but not any longer. Mine are about 12 feet tall. I will be taking them out in the fall. Is there a better time of the year to remove them? Unfortunately, my neighbor has the massive, full grown BP's all along her driveway. I wonder if SC will make her cut them down. How are they planning to enforce the ban?

[@sherriianiro747]

Int he early 20th century french pear trees in the northwest were ravaged by fireblight. Plant explorers were sent to China to collect diverse seeds of the genus since Asian species, unlike American or European have resistance because they have been around much longer. As plantsman Meyer brought back more diverse seeds from China they were crossed and created a disease resistant rootstock. Even though they are resistant to fireblight, the trees could not be permanent rootstock because they are not hardy below 10,° poor fruit set and hard to propagate. It wasn't until the 1950's it was crossed to become the Callery Pear we know today, because it is deer, japanese beetle & wood borer resistant, is a host plant to the Giant Swallowtail and Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, and the fruit is relished by Cedar Waxwings, Northern Cardinals, Robins and Gray Catbirds to name a few. Mammals eat the fruit also. The southeast is like Chinas' native range and the trees grow in areas where humans have destroyed areas with compacted and poor soil.

[@rachelsgarden]

They really do pop out of nowhere in early spring! When we lived in Norman, OK, the city required two trees in our front yard. One of our options was Cleveland Pear. Thanks for spreading the word!

[@marylynnhaynes7558]

Narrow crotches. Ugly thorns. So glad I never planted one. Terrible.

[@jessicacook8186]

I had mine cut down and stump ground out 2 years ago. It grew back from the roots and now i have at least 40 of them trying to grow. I have to go out and cut or pull thrm out every few weeks. I have one more and I'm scared to have it removed. One is better than 40?!?

[@irvingluna4914]

They’re everywhere here in Upstate SC, actually I have one in my backyard that the builder left with giant pines, the thorns are nasty. I’m planning to take it down but my yard is crowded with other trees, so we’ll see…

[@JennJenn9]

very interesting- I wonder what a Top 10 Most Invasive list would look like… would Tree of Heaven, Wisteria… 🤔

[@timothyallbritton1961]

They are in Georgia as well. Last year I asked my wife what is that flowering tree that's taken over that pasture? Well, turns out its the Bradford Pear. It has gone from one or two till now it's taken over 110 acres or more.

[@lizmiller8084]

Very informative! And a bit scary. Thank you for this video!

[@ParryOtter6]

Ugh these are all over the place in KY. The neighbor behind us has one on the fence line, along with tree of heaven AND white mulberry. 😱

[@cpp263]

hendersonville nc has put a bounty on these trees. Big effort to try to stop the spread. Fingers crossed.

[@evemarkus]

Hello Jim! 👋 Unknowingly, I took mine out of my garden. They are pretty and I liked them but one came down with the wind so out they all went. I should add that I’ve added reasonable trees to my small yard.

[@ksmith3922]

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! This is one of the most comprehensive explanations, with real world examples, of why everyone needs to remove these trees.

[@kellytoycow]

😭 one of these keeps trying to coming up through our blueberry bushes. Our neighbor has them lining their long driveway that lines the edge of our property. I didn’t realize the giant thorns until I had to deal with them last month. ☹️

[@Ricard0_]

I saw these for sale at a local nursery in NW Arkansas and my heart sank. Lol

[@ruth8268]

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, for this video. I know many people don't give a rip about trees and what is invasive or not. This is startling. Everyone needs to see this! Thank you!