Bradford pear is a popular cultivar of the Callery pear (Pyrus calleryana) native to China and Vietnam. White spring blooms, dark glossy leaves, and a tight pyramidal growth habit has made Bradford pear a common ornamental chosen for landscapes. Bradford pear was originally bred to be sterile and the flowers unable to pollinate themselves. As more cultivars of Callery Pear entered the market, more opportunities for cross-pollination arose, fruit with viable seeds were produced and birds helped spread. You can now find thick stands of thorny Callery Pear escaped from cultivation and present along roadways, fence lines, and edges of cleared land. Chances are the white blooming trees you often see this time of year are seedlings from Bradford pears. The thorny Bradford pear offspring are not desirable to deer browsing, have such a dark, thick canopy it easily outcompetes native vegetation, and grows vigorously–all of these traits allow it to become extremely competitive with native vegetation.

In addition to their invasive qualities, Bradford pear blooms have an unpleasant smell, a fishy or rotting meat odor attracts carrion-loving beetles and flies, which are the original pollinators of the Callery tree. With their rapid growth rate the limbs and trunk are structurally weak and often split and fail within 10-20 years of its lifespan.  

Here are some options to replace your Bradford pears that will provide more than just ornamental value, but also ecological value and a longer lifespan.  These small deciduous tree choices are all native to western North Carolina and in stock at Painters Greenhouse.

Serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.)

White blooms in early spring (aligns with Bradford pear bloomtime), usually reaches 25’ in height and width at maturity, edible fruit and stunning fall color.

White Fringe Tree (Chionanthus virginicus)

White, fragrant, dainty blooms in spring, reaches 12-20’ in height and width, produces fruit (similar to olives) appealing to wildlife if a male and female tree are present.

Redbud (Cercis canadensis)

Magenta spring blooms present before leaves, reaches 20-30’ tall and wide, valuable nectar and pollen source for bees when food sources are scarce.

Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida)

White spring bloomer, reaches 15-25’ tall and wide, beautiful fall foliage.

Carolina Silverbell (Halesia Carolina)

Showy white blooms in late April/early May droop from dainty limbs, slowly reaches 20-30’ tall and wide, canopy is open-form with a loose pyramidal shaped crown.