In this episode of Growing the Ozarks, host Kelly McGowan of the University of Missouri Extension talks with Springfield Plateau Chapter Master Naturalist Lois Zerrer about the invasive Bradford pear.
The Bradford pear (Pyrus calleryana), sometimes known as the Callery pear, first arrived in the U.S. landscape plant industry about 30 years ago. It was originally thought to be the perfect landscape tree. It was fast growing, had a nice shape, was a good size for the home landscape, had nice flowers in spring, and nice fall color.
It was also thought to be sterile, meaning the small inedible fruit it produced would not produce viable seeds. It was quickly discovered that the seeds were viable and would spread to nearby woodlands and become incredibly invasive. It is now on the Missouri Invasive Species list. The wild offspring of the Bradford pear are also thorny and can form an impenetrable thicket if not controlled…