Callery pear is illegal in Ohio. If you have this tree, here's why you should cut it down

Frank Becker
·3 min read
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As of Jan. 1, Callery pear is now illegal to grow, sell, or plant in Ohio.

This is a good move; it is just about 20 years late. The ones planted are spreading exponentially and are causing serious problems if not kept in check.

Frank Becker
Frank Becker

Previous farm column:Need to know more about planning for future of your farm? Help is available

When Callery pear was initially introduced, it was believed that it was unable to reproduce by seed and had sterile fruit. The problem is, cultivars can cross pollinate with each other, which produces viable seeds. Some of these cultivars included Bradford, Cleveland select, autumn blaze, and Chanticleer, to name a few.

Birds gorge on the plentiful, but low-energy fruit then drop the seeds in their waste everywhere and the next tree takes off creating an endless and devastating cycle.

Callery pears are weak structured with steep V-notched branches that are prone to breaking off in ice, snow, and windy conditions. They will get to roughly 10 to 15 years old and then start falling apart. The other issue is the waxy leaves decompose very slowly causing headaches in landscape and street tree settings, as well as compost piles.

Simply put, do not plant any more Callery pear, and if you have one, it would be best to cut it down before its invasive seeds are spread any further or it falls apart.

More:Need to know more about planning for future of your farm? Help is available

Lear more about removing or controlling Callery pear

Callery pears are easily spotted in spring. Their white flowers can be seen along highways, fields, ditches and other disturbed sites.

They can also work their way into our woodlands and wild areas. When Callery pear begins to colonize an area, they are able to inhibit the establishment of native plant species. So, as we move on from Callery pear being available to be bought and planted, our focus should now shift on removal of existing trees.

“There is no requirement for the removal of existing plants, but the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry encourages control and removal to benefit native forest ecosystems,” according to the ODNR.

There are some resources available online to help you learn more about removal or control of Callery pear in forested or natural settings. You can find information in fact sheets such as “Controlling Undesirable Trees, Shrubs, and Vines in Your Woodland” or “Herbicides Commonly Used for Controlling Undesirable Trees, Shrubs, and Vines in Your Woodland."

You also can contact your ODNR Division of Forestry state service forester, or an International Society of Arboriculture certified arborists if you have additional questions.

When Callery pear are removed from the landscape, ideally, they are replaced with a tree species that is native to our area and provide benefits to our local habitats and ecosystems. Some species to utilize are serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.), eastern redbud (Cercis Canadensis), chokecherry (Prunus Virginiana), American plum (Prunus Americana), flowering dogwood (Cornus Florida), eastern hophornbeam (Ostrya Virginiana), American hornbeam (Carpinus Caroliniana), yellowwood (Cladrastis Kentukea), hawthorn (Crataegus spp.) and blackgum (Nyssa Sylvatica).

It is important to take an opportunity to fill gaps in the landscape with native species, otherwise other non-native invasive species like burning bush, or multiflora rose can quickly create additional problems.

Frank Becker is the agriculture and natural resources Extension educator with Ohio State University – Wayne County, and a certified crop adviser, and may be reached at 330-264-8722 or becker.5872osu.edu 

CFAES provides research and related educational programs to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis. For more information, visit cfaesdiversity.osu.edu.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Don't plant a Callery pear tree in Ohio, and if you have one, cut it