Over the years, Callery pear, or Bradford pear, has become one of the most widely planted ornamental trees in the US. And, frankly, it stinks. Why do Bradford pear trees smell so awful?

To ensure that each Callery pear tree had bright blooms, red foliage and other desired traits, horticulturists created identical clones through a process known as grafting: creating seedlings from ...

Once Callery pear has escaped into natural areas, its seedlings produce very sharp, stiff thorns that can puncture shoes or even tires. This makes the trees a menace to people working in the area ...

The Callery pear tree’s aesthetically pleasing, upward-facing branch structure meant limbs would rip and fly off during storms, threatening to injure people and damage cars and homes.(Kelly Oten ...

As of 2023, it is illegal to sell, plant or grow Callery pear trees in Ohio, with similar bans to hit other states in 2024. By Ryan W. McEwan / The Conversation Published Mar 8, 2023 9:00 PM EST ...

Seedlings of Callery pear routinely sprout in my perennial bed and herb garden each spring, likely planted by the birds who frequented the plants and the bird baths in my gardens the previous summer.

Why are there so many Bradford pear trees? The Callery pear’s biggest offense might be its apparent desire to take over the entire planet with its ever-increasing populations of seedlings.

Over the years, Callery pear, or Bradford pear, has become one of the most widely planted ornamental trees in the US. And, frankly, it stinks.