INDIANA — Indiana is taking decisive action to curb the spread of the Callery pear, a popular but destructive invasive tree species that has begun to dominate the state’s natural landscapes.
Commonly known by cultivars like the Bradford pear or Cleveland Select, these trees are easily identified in early spring by their dense clusters of white flowers—and their notoriously unpleasant odor. While they were once a staple of suburban landscaping, officials say their ecological cost has become too high to ignore.
The Callery pear was originally introduced to the U.S. as a sterile ornamental tree. However, as different varieties were planted near one another, they began to cross-pollinate, creating fertile seeds. These seeds are consumed by birds and dropped across forests, fields, and roadsides.
Unlike native species, the Callery pear has few natural competitors in Indiana. It leafs out earlier in the spring and holds its leaves later into the fall, effectively “shading out” native plants and destroying the biodiversity necessary for local insects and wildlife to thrive.
“From a landowner perspective, they cost a lot of money to control,” said Amber Slaughterbeck of Cooperative Invasives Management. “The best thing you can do is be very proactive. Don’t buy the tree. If you have it, map it this time of year and figure out how you’re going to work on controlling it.”
Free Resources for Hoosier Landowners
For residents unsure if the trees on their property are invasive, the state is offering assistance. Southern Indiana Cooperative Invasives Management (SICIM) and other local partnerships provide free property surveys to help landowners identify invasive species and develop a management plan…