Ohio outlaws ubiquitous pear trees

Ohio this year has banned the sale of Callery pear trees that are crowding out native wild plants in many forests across the country.

Ohio is the first of several states taking steps to eradicate the once-popular ornamental trees, known for their white spring blossoms. A similar ban will go into effect inSouth Carolina starting in 2024.

In 2018, Ohio gave landscapers, growers, and nurseries five years of notice that the ban was coming so they could replace their inventories without causing financial harm.

University of Cincinnati biologist Theresa Culley said once established, pear trees are hard to remove. UC manages a southwest Ohio forest known as the Harris Benedict Nature Preserve, where Callery pear trees are sprouting in clearings.

"Seedlings of pear trees are now also showing up in the forest understory. They are very difficult to remove because they have a very long taproot," Culley said.

Culley said the pear trees grow quickly and tolerate a variety of wet, dry, sunny or shady conditions.

"They're extremely hardy. They can grow pretty much anywhere. They have abundant flowers that attract all kinds of pollinators so they end up with abundant fruit that birds disperse," said Culley, who is head of UC's Department of Biological Sciences.

Culley serves on the Ohio Invasive Plants Council, and also is a member of the Ohio Invasive Plant Advisory Committee, which advises the Ohio Department of Agriculture on regulation. To date, the committee has identified more than three dozen nonnative plants that are not permitted to be sold or planted in the state because of their potential to cause economic or environmental harm. These include purple loosestrife, Japanese stiltgrass and amur honeysuckle, another plant that is taking over many Ohio forests.

"The nursery industry doesn't want to release invasive plants if they can help it," Culley said.

William Kyle Natorp, president and CEO of the Cincinnati nursery Natorp's, said many property owners have already replaced pear trees.

"Customer demand disappeared when it was realized that this plant was an invasive issue. Our nursery stopped producing these trees. I think most nurseries did the same," he said.

Natorp said growers offer a wide selection of alternatives to meet any growing condition.

"Ideally, a mix of trees is the best choice when planting multiple plants. This diversity helps protect against a future unknown disease or pest like the emerald ash borer," Natorp said.

The emerald ash borer is a nonnative, invasive beetle that has killed tens of millions of trees across 30 states, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

South Carolina and Pennsylvania are pursuing similar measures to curb the spread of pear trees.

"Other states have already responded similarly to Ohio and I would expect this to continue countrywide," Natorp said.

UC's Culley said Ohio is watching for other looming threats from nonnative, invasive species. Warmer winters mean some plants are creeping farther north. Culley said she has a personal interest in preventing the spread of invasive species.

"I'm also a gardener, so I want to know what to plant and not harm our natural areas," she said.