Invasive Bradford Pear
When people learn how to identify Bradford pears and their invasive qualities, it’s often an eye-opening realization of just how bad the invasion is.
Bradford pear trees, also known as Callery pears, have been a popular ornamental tree for decades. There are many different cultivars and a lot of cross-pollinating going on, so for all intents and purposes we’ll call them “Bradford pears” for its recognizability. This tree was first introduced to the United States in the early 1900’s for development of fire blight resistance in the common pear before being used as an ornamental.
How Bradford Pears Spread
Bradford pear trees reproduce by seed and vegetatively (sprouting from roots). They also cross-pollinate with other cultivars, producing fruit and creating viable seeds. Bradford pears produce an enormous amount of seed that is dispersed by birds and other small mammals. Seedlings germinate and spread rapidly. Once established, Bradford pears form dense thickets that out-compete native plant species, including grasses, forbs and other woody plants. Ornamental use in urban areas creates a large seed source, prime for invading pastures and wildland areas.
Negative Impacts of Bradford Pears
Like other invasive species, Bradford pears reproduce vigorously making them very difficult to manage. Within a few years, one tree can effectively spread into a large thicket. When Bradford pears invade an area, they out-compete native plants that provide valuable wildlife habitat and grazing for livestock. Once they establish in an area, they quickly hopscotch on to other areas, invading them before its recognized as a problem.
Identify Bradford Pears
Bradford pears can be easily identified in the Great Plains as they are one of the first flowering woody plants, and are one of the first to leaf out. They produce an abundant amount of white flowers in early spring, followed by leaf production of smaller oval-shaped glossy leaves, commonly found in fruit trees. In the winter months they can be identified by a thicket of like trees with smooth gray bark.
Control Bradford Pears
Like almost all woody plant species, Bradford pears are a re-sprouting species, meaning herbicide must be used to kill them. Herbicide can be applied to Bradford pears via foliar application or a means of stump treatment.
Foliar Application for Bradford Pears
A foliar application can be applied to young trees that are actively growing. The application needs to be adequate to kill the tree. A triclopyr solution can be used. *Always read herbicide labels for mixing instructions.
Stump Treatment of Bradford Pears
Cut the tree and immediately apply the herbicide to the stump. If herbicide is not applied immediately the tree will form a seal and the herbicide will not adequately be taken into the roots of the plant (this applies to stump treating all re-sprouting woody plants). Use a 25% triclopyr solution. With the vigorous seed production of the Callery pear/Bradford pear, follow-up treatment will be necessary.
Spread The Word
If you have invasive Bradford/Callery pears on your property and don’t have a means of control, contact us and we can help. If you have minimal infestation and the means of control, take care of the problem before it gets too costly and out of control. If you don’t have Bradford pears but want to help others, share social media posts and articles from reputable sources, DO NOT PLANT ANY NEW TREES, educate your neighbors, get involved with local management- every little bit helps.
