One of the best trees for fall foliage is actually banned in Ohio. Here's what to know

Did you know one of the best trees for fall foliage is actually banned in Ohio?

Meet the Bradford pear tree .

As of January 2023, it became 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.

Why are Bradford pear trees band in Ohio? There are a few reasons. Here's what to know.

The Bradford pear tree provides beautiful fall foliage

Though the Bradford pear tree—also known as the Callery pear tree according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources —is invasive, it's a pretty nice tree to look at in the fall, with its leaves turning from green to maroon.

The Bradford pear tree is a medium-sized tree that reaches a height of up to 60 feet with bark that is a muted, grayish brown which splits into scales with age. Each tree is commonly in the shape of an egg. During warmer seasons, their glossy green leaves are as long as three inches and have round teeth.

What is the Bradford pear?

This Callery pear plant, or the Bradford pear, is an ornamental species native to China and Vietnam that was introduced to America in the 1900s. Because of fire blight, a disease affecting pear and apple trees, the Callery pear was introduced in breeding programs to resist the disease. It then quickly became a favorite in landscaping because of its adaptability, flowering, fall color and rounded crown.

Why did Ohio ban Bradford pear trees? Why they are bad for the environment

Ohio, like most of the Midwest, contains deciduous forests, characterized by trees that lose their leaves at the end of each growing season, according to the Minnesota DNR .

However, only certain plants and animals are made to thrive in deciduous forests. Bradford pears don't belong and disrupt the environment. The Callery pear trees ( Pyrus calleryana ) grow and spread at an alarming rate. The species has proven very successful at invading disturbed areas, open fields, unimproved pastures, rights of ways, and forest edges, according to the Alabama Cooperative Extension System .

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.

How has the Bradford pear invaded environments?

The species was once believed to be unable to reproduce by seed and bred to be sterile, but over time, the genetic diversity increased, leading to opportunities for outcrossing. When all trees within an individual cultivar are genetically the same, they can cross-pollinate, producing successful fruiting, ACES reports.

The seeds of these plants are easily dispersed by birds when consumed. As these trees spread in empty spaces, they shade out native tree species, causing a rapid change in plant and wildlife communities.

Put it all together, and this tree is a significant threat to native land and wildlife.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: One of the best trees for fall foliage is actually banned in Ohio. Here's what to know