Avoid Planting Bradford Pear Trees

Photo byRiley RevellonUnsplash

This post may include content partially written by AI but carefully reviewed by a human.

Once upon a time, in a not-so-distant past, garden centers around North Carolina sold the Bradford Pear tree to unsuspecting buyers. They extolled the beautiful early spring white blossoms and the lovely shape and size- all to ring up sales of this tree.

Since then, the tree has become an environmental headache. But you need not take me at my word. The North Carolina State University's Agricultural Extension website issues a warning about this species: "This plant is problematic, and alternatives should be considered."

The Problems with Bradford Pear Trees

• Invasiveness: Bradford Pear Trees are aggressive in their spreading habits. More, they'll cross-pollinate with other pear trees. That may cause hardier offspring that eventually dominate our native NC species. The eventual displacement can create harm down the road by harming local wildlife that needs native plants for habitat and nutrition.

1. Fragility: Despite their lovely size and shapely appeal, these trees have a weak branch structure. They're more prone than native trees to splitting and breaking. As a lawn care service provider, I get more than my fair share of calls to do storm cleanups - and these trees are a usual culprit.
2. Short Lifespan: Bradford Pears have a relatively short lifespan. While the initial price tag might be reasonable, they're not really a very good value. Plan on replacement in approximately 20 years - 25 if you're super lucky.
3. Stinky Flowers: Don't let the beautiful blossoms bamboozle you into buying. The flowers smell terrible. I describe the odor as dead fish rotting on the edge of the Chowan River in June. I said what I said. My wife thinks they smell like baby poo. Either way, it's an awful stench.

Alternative Planting Options:

Now you know why you should take great pains to avoid planting Bradford Pears. But what should you plant instead? Here are three NC native species that will be easy to care for. They're drought-resistant and are beautiful trees. They also meet NC's ecological needs:

• Dogwood Trees: You'll enjoy their beautiful flowers and hardiness. Early spring bees find them irresistible.
• Redbud Trees: The beauty of the stunning pink and purple flowers in early spring makes this worth giving up your Bradford Pear.
• Eastern Red Cedar: This hardy evergreen option gives you year-round color. It also supports local wildlife.

An Innovative Approach to Removing Bradford Pears from the Ecosystem

Some communities in North Carolina have started strong educational campaigns to help citizens understand the dangers of these trees. For instance, Wake Forest, near Raleigh, offers a Bradford Pear tree exchange. Residents can pre-register to remove the offending tree and drop it off to the town at a certain time. They receive a free native tree to take home and re-plant in its place.

Cool idea. But no similar programs are in place locally in our area - at least not for now.

The Bradford Pear tree is certainly a lovely sight to behold in the spring. Despite its lovely looks, it risks North Carolina's local ecosystems. That's a cost simply too high to pay.

Photo byVijayalakshmi NidugondionUnsplash

Randy Tayloe is a lawn care and gardening expert and the operator of Tayloe's Lawn Care Services, LLC, in Aulander, NC. You can connect with him on Facebook or LinkedIn for additional gardening and lawn care tips.