Indiana Dept. Of Natural Resources Discourages Planting Of "Invasive" Pear Trees

By Mike Perleberg Callery pear pyrus calleryana tree blossoms. Photo by C.E. Price, Wikipedia. (Undated) - You might think twice before planting that pear tree in your yard. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources is urging homeowners and landscapers to avoid planting ornamental pear trees. Bradford pears and other types of pear trees are crowding out native Indiana trees. The IDNR goes as far as calling the pear trees an invasive species. “Over time different varieties of pear have cross pollinated in our urban areas, allowing them to rapidly spread into our natural resources,” said Megan Abraham, director of the DNR Division of Entomology & Plant Pathology. Carrie Tauscher, urban forestry coordinator with the DNR Division of Forestry, says that evidence of the trees’ rapid spread is easy to see. “Just take a look for glossy leaved, egg-shaped trees in highway interchanges,” Tauscher said.  “It’s common to find them in unmown areas under utility lines and in lots and fields initially cleared for construction that are then left fallow.” While known for their white flowers, according to Abraham, pear trees typically do not last long. They are weaker and more easily damaged by storms than native trees. Cultivated forms of invasive pear trees to be avoided include Bradford, New Bradford®, Cleveland select, autumn blaze, Aristocrat®, capitol, Chanticleer®, and dozens more. Hoosiers are being asked to plant other types of ornamental trees including serviceberry trees, which have similar white blooms in the spring and fruits to attract wildlife. Another recommendation are eastern redbuds, which grow quickly with lavender flowers in the spring. More information on native Indiana trees suitable for landscaping can be found at the Indiana Native Plant and Wildflower Society website at inpaws.org/landscaping.