This popular spring tree is banned in several US states but still sold in Canada
You'll likely smell this tree before you see it.
Often called “spring’s stinkiest tree” due to its rotting fish-like smell, the Bradford pear is a fast-growing ornamental known for its white spring blossoms ... and the headaches it can bring.
To date, officials have banned the invasive tree in four states. New Jersey is the most recent adoptee of the law, announcing earlier this month that the “propagation, sale, and distribution” of the tree could result in a $2,000 fine.
Still sold in Canadian garden centres despite bans abroad
Despite restrictions south of the border, the Bradford pear tree remains available for purchase at garden centres across Canada, even though it is a recognized invasive.
Why have parts of the U.S. banned the Bradford pear tree?
Restrictions on the Bradford pear tree stem from concerns over its spread into natural areas and high costs associated with removal.
Warmer climates in parts of the U.S. fuel the tree’s spread and growth: In some places, it can reach up to 15 metres in height.
Early in the season, the trees can create dense canopies that can result in "dead zones" that block out the light other plants need to survive.
Spread and growth are more limited in Canada due to our cooler temperatures and shorter growing season.
In the past, Windsor, Ont., was adding between 50 and 75 Bradford pear trees a year to the city. At the time, officials said they believed the region’s cold weather would “inhibit” growth.
But by 2023, the city announced it was “scaling down” the amount of pear trees in its new stock inventory.
The decision was made “in recognition of emerging arboriculture advice about their invasive tendency,” Windsor’s city forester, Yemi Adeyeye, told CTV News in 2023.
In Canada, the trees are most commonly found in southern Ontario. While the trees can still be bought and planted here, a growing number of horticulturists are warning against spreading them, encouraging the proliferation of native plants instead.
Intentionally introduced
The Bradford pear tree was intentionally brought to North America from Asia in the 1960s, introduced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. For decades, it served as a popular ornamental tree, prized for its early spring blooms of delicate white flowers and long-lasting colours in the autumn.
When Bradford pears were first planted, they were thought to be sterile hybrids - but cross-pollination helped the tree migrate into natural spaces where it outcompetes native plants.
Weak branches
In the 1980s, scientists discovered they were prone to breaking from high winds, or weakening at a certain age - they'll often 'kill' themselves around the 20-year mark. This is due to a weak branch structure called a "steep v crotch." But while the trees are weak at the "v" point, they remain strong elsewhere, making the falling branches a safety hazard, especially for cars parked underneath.
Cross breeding
The tree crossbreeds with other pear varieties to create problematic hybrids.
When its fruit is eaten by birds, the seeds are spread across a wide region.
All of this has further compounded the Bradford pear problem, creating what could take several years to eradicate due to the tree's proliferation and persistence.