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Why Ohio Banned the Sale of Beloved Pear Trees: The Story of Invasive Callery Pears

Ohio leads the nation in banning Callery pear trees, reshaping landscapes to protect native habitats and local biodiversity.

By Medha deb

Created on Sep 26, 2025

Ohio leads the nation in banning Callery pear trees, reshaping landscapes to protect native habitats and local biodiversity.

The Callery pear tree, once prized for its ornamental beauty and resilience, is now banned for planting and sale in Ohio. This landmark decision reflects growing concern about invasive species across the United States. Once beloved, these trees have transformed from suburban staples to environmental threats, spurring statewide action and laying a blueprint for future plant management.

A Tree’s Path: From Favorite to Forbidden

Callery pear (Pyrus calleryana), also known as the Bradford pear and by other cultivar names such as Cleveland Select and Chanticleer, originated in Asia. Initially introduced to the U.S. in the early 1900s, it entered mainstream landscaping through USDA breeding programs in the 1960s for its disease resistance, adaptability, remarkable white blossoms in spring, and attractive fall colors.

Valued for adaptability to varied soils and urban environments
Popular for springtime white blooms and vibrant purple fall foliage
Preferred for its rounded crown and low maintenance requirements

However, the very characteristics that made the Callery pear so appealing—rapid growth, pest resistance, and tolerance—also enabled its aggressive spread. Over decades, these trees became a common sight along highways, in commercial developments, and suburban neighborhoods, especially in disturbed or newly developed sites.

Why Callery Pear Trees Became a Problem

Despite their beauty, Callery pears developed a notorious reputation for two primary reasons: their invasiveness and their unusual odor. The flowers, while visually stunning, emit a strong scent commonly described as reminiscent of rotten fish or dirty laundry.

The Ecological Threat

The main threat posed by Callery pear trees arises from their invasive qualities:

Outcompete Native Species: The trees proliferate rapidly, especially because birds spread their seeds far beyond where they are planted. The resulting wild growth crowds out native trees and shrubs, reducing biodiversity and altering natural habitats.
Hybrid Vigor: Different cultivars of Callery pear readily cross-pollinate, increasing genetic diversity in wild populations and accelerating their spread.
Weak Structure: Fast-growing limbs of Callery pears lead to a brittle canopy, with branches prone to breakage during storms, causing property and infrastructural damage.
Resistant to Eradication: Unlike many other invasive plants, the Callery pear does not easily die when chopped down or burned. Chemical treatments are usually necessary, making removal labor-intensive and costly.

According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), each year Callery pears contribute to “millions of dollars of ecological damage” by eliminating native plants and altering the food web needed by local insects and birds.

**Callery Pear: Benefits vs. Environmental Costs**
Benefit	Environmental Cost
Beautiful white spring flowers	Flowers emit a foul scent, unpopular with homeowners
Attractive fall color	Prolific seeding crowds out native plants
Disease resistance (to fire blight)	Creates monocultures, reducing vital biodiversity
Low maintenance, adaptable	Weak branch structure leads to storm damage

The Legal Ban: Ohio’s Landmark Policy

On January 1, 2023, Ohio became the first state in the U.S. to enact a statewide ban on planting, selling, or growing Callery pear trees. The law, passed by the Ohio Legislature and enforced by the ODNR Division of Forestry, targets all cultivars of Callery pear, including the famous Bradford pear. It is now illegal to buy, sell, plant, or intentionally propagate these trees anywhere in Ohio.

Existing trees: Ohio residents are not required to remove established Callery pears, but officials strongly encourage controlling and removing them, especially in natural and forested areas.
Enforcement: The ban is focused on prevention; there are no penalties for keeping established trees, but criminal penalties may apply for selling or new plantings.

The aim is to curb the further spread—especially by eliminating their sale at nurseries and big box stores, which has been a chief source of their continued escape into the wild.

Regional and National Context: Ohio Leading the Way

Ohio’s bold ban set an important precedent for other states. Neighboring and Midwestern states have begun considering or enacting similar restrictions:

Pennsylvania: Ban on Callery pear took effect in February 2024.
South Carolina: Statewide ban effective October 2024.
Missouri: Proposed legislation would prohibit sale and distribution from January 2025.
Kansas: Department of Agriculture’s proposal could restrict movement of Callery pears statewide by 2027.

Other public agencies and extension programs across the country now actively discourage Callery pear plantings and promote native alternatives. The species is recognized as a land management headache and a threat to natural ecosystems, especially where it has “few predators and so outcompetes native plants.”

Ecological Impacts: Invasiveness, Wildlife, and the Food Web

Unlike native trees, Callery pear provides almost no benefit to native wildlife. Notably, ecologists such as University of Delaware’s Professor Douglas Tallamy point out:

Native goldenrods and wild plums support dozens of native caterpillar and bird species.
Callery pears, being non-native, do not support these vital food webs.
Dense thickets created by escaping Callery pears choke out wildflowers and shrubs, altering habitat structure for animals.

In addition to crowding out native plants, the fast-maturing and resilient Callery pear forms dense stands in urban-rural interfaces, pastures, and along highways—regions that should serve as migration corridors or habitats for native wildlife.

The result is a landscape less hospitable to native birds, insect pollinators, and plants, with declining ecosystem services and reduced natural resilience against pests and diseases.

Management and Removal: What Ohio Residents Need to Know

Although the ban does not force property owners to cut down existing Callery pears, the ODNR and local experts recommend actively managing or removing them, particularly when these trees proliferate near sensitive forests or prairies.

Manual Removal: Small saplings can sometimes be pulled by hand. Mature trees present challenges due to vigorous resprouting.
Chemical Control: Cutting the tree often encourages regrowth from stumps. Herbicidal application is typically necessary to fully eradicate established individuals.
Ongoing Monitoring: Because seeds are efficiently dispersed by birds, ongoing surveillance for new plants is required, especially in disturbed or recently cleared areas.

Alternatives to Callery Pear: Choosing Native Trees

Fortunately, many alternatives can provide similar aesthetic value without the ecological risks. Ohio’s natural resource experts and ecologists recommend several native and non-invasive options for residents seeking spring blooms or fall color:

Serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.): Upright, multi-season beauty with edible berries for wildlife.
Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis): Striking pink-purple flowers in early spring.
Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida): Showy blooms and brilliant red fall fruit.
Wild plum (Prunus americana): White flowers, edible fruit, vital food source for insects and birds.
American hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana): Attractive foliage, smooth gray trunk, fall color.
Blackgum (Nyssa sylvatica): Impressive scarlet fall foliage and wildlife support.

Native trees offer not only visual appeal but also crucial ecosystem services, fostering pollinators, songbirds, and other beneficial wildlife, while stabilizing soil and enhancing overall landscape value.

The Broader Significance: Lessons for Invasive Species Management

Ohio’s action signals a broader trend among government agencies, conservationists, and the public to rethink landscaping in light of environmental stewardship. Key lessons include:

Importance of prevention: Once established, invasive plants are difficult and costly to remove, necessitating upfront restrictions on propagation and sale.
Biodiversity matters: Diverse, native plantings contribute to resilient landscapes capable of supporting both human and ecological health.
Public awareness: Education efforts by biologists, universities, and state agencies are shifting public opinion, encouraging voluntary removal and replacement with non-invasive options.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What trees did Ohio ban in 2023?

A: Ohio banned the planting, sale, and intentional propagation of all Callery pear cultivars, including Bradford pear trees, due to their invasive nature.

Q: Must I cut down existing Callery pear trees on my property?

A: No, removal of established trees is not legally required. However, control or removal is encouraged by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to help native ecosystems.

Q: What makes the Callery (Bradford) pear tree invasive?

A: The trees spread beyond cultivated sites, rapidly forming thickets, crowding out natives, and producing no useful habitat or food for wildlife. Birds efficiently disperse their seeds, accelerating the problem.

Q: Are there other states with bans or restrictions?

A: Yes, Pennsylvania and South Carolina have bans taking effect in 2024. Missouri and Kansas are considering similar measures. Many other states strongly discourage their planting.

Q: What are some recommended alternatives to Callery pear?

A: Recommended alternatives include native serviceberry, redbud, dogwood, wild plum, hornbeam, and blackgum—all of which support wildlife and enhance biodiversity.

Key Takeaways for Homeowners and Land Managers

Do not plant Callery/Bradford pear trees. Their sale and planting are now illegal in Ohio and other states will soon follow.
Consider removing established trees, especially where they threaten native habitats or forest edges.
Replace with native or non-invasive trees that provide similar seasonal beauty and benefit wildlife.
Monitor your property for saplings or new growth—remove them promptly to prevent further spread.
Support state conservation efforts and stay updated on best management practices to help protect local ecosystems.

Ohio’s historic ban on the Callery/Bradford pear is both a cautionary tale and a call to action. As public understanding deepens, individuals have new opportunities—and responsibilities—to reimagine their landscapes and safeguard the native environment for future generations.

References

Author

medha deb

Medha Deb is an editor with a master's degree in Applied Linguistics from the University of Hyderabad. She believes that her qualification has helped her develop a deep understanding of language and its application in various contexts.

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