Just read a little on Callery/Bradford Pears ... they are turning invasive ...

[eppur_se_muova]

There was a thread in GD on Bradford Pears recently. My mom had told me about all the pear trees planted in our area by developers and landscapers, and how easily their limbs break off in bad weather. Recently I noticed a lot of white-blooming trees along the roads in our area, clearly not dogwoods, and my mom said those were ornamental cherry and non-fruiting pear trees. They seem to be sprouting everywhere, particularly the "tear-drop shaped" ones, which I presume are pear trees. Then the local paper printed an article on Callery Pears, parent stock of Bradford Pears. Apparently this has become an invasive species in many areas.

I googled "callery pear invasive" and found a worrisomely large number of articles. Add the name of your state to do a more focused search.

http://www.invasive.org/browse/subinfo.cfm?sub=10957

No more exotic "decorative" species taken out of their natural environment! Plant local species, and help regenerate the forest species we have cut down! Please consider the alternative approach:

http://www.timberpress.com/books/bringing_nature_home/tallamy/9780881929928
http://www.plantanative.com/
http://www.plantanative.com/what-should-i-plant.html

[theoldman]

1. There is another species called aristocrat that does not break as easily.

It tends to grow up, not out.