A Pear of Problems

A bike ride from the Port of Albany to Voorheesville on the recently-completed Hudson/Helderberg Bike Trail is a true treat.  While zipping by waterfalls, behind strip malls and over traffic-choked roadways on a smooth ribbon through the countryside, I say a sincere thank you to all those who made this joy ride possible.  I have only one gripe.  At the western end, in front of a lovely pavilion, are planted two Callery pears.  Unfortunately, someone doesn’t know that, for some time now, Callery pear has been a plant non grata, the poster child of a bad botanical actor, and simply not a good choice for a newly designed landscape.   

It didn’t start out this way.  According to the Washington Post, Callery pear (Pyrus Calleryana) was imported from China more than a century ago as a possible solution to the problem of fireblight disease in fruit-producing pear trees.  As part of that research, thousands of Callery pear seedlings were growing at the U.S. Plant Introduction Station in Glenn Dale, Maryland in the early 1950’s.  That’s when horticulturist John Creech found one that showed some outstanding ornamental characteristics.  He admired its beautiful early spring blossoms, disease and insect resistance, and tremendous vigor even in tough site conditions.  It also lacked the thorns which other Callery pears brandished.  Naming it ‘Bradford’ for F.C. Bradford, a former director of the Station, John planted 180 specimens in University Park, a Washington, D.C. suburb.  Happy with the results, by 1960 scion wood was offered to nursery propagators to graft onto pear rootstocks, which could then be sold to the public.  This would allow identical ‘Bradford’ Callery pear trees to be planted across the nation. 

A new star of garden centers was born.  Landscapers liked ‘Bradford’ for its ease of planting.  Landscape architects and highway departments were drawn to its lollypop shape.  Everyone enjoyed the flowers.  But trouble was brewing.  It was soon discovered that ‘Bradford’ had a poor branching structure, and sometimes split during storms.  Many trees suffered irreparable damage and required removal.  In response, new varieties of Callery pear were developed with better shape and structure.  Then folks noticed that Callery pears seemed to be producing more fruits.  The original planting of isolated ‘Bradfords’ back at University Park had seemed almost sterile.  But as time went on, and more varieties of pears inhabited more of the country and cross pollinated, they quietly fruited.  Where they are fruits, there are birds, who aided in the spread of new Callery pears hither and yon, beyond the built landscape.  A new invasive species was born.

By the late 90’s, the invasive characteristics of Callery pear were becoming known.  Soon, dozens of states listed Callery pear on their invasive lists; the number today is 29 states or better.  Localities nationwide are now spending tax dollars on eliminating invasive pears, but in New York, we keep planting them.  Unfortunately, State government left Callery pear off the invasive species list created in 2014.  Obviously, we have a disconnect between people and the potential of the pear.