Ohio ban on blooming pear trees goes into effect

Five years after Ohio announced a coming ban, it is now illegal to sell, grow or plant Callery pear trees in the state.

The trees, the most popular version of which were Bradford pear trees, were banned due to their invasive qualities and likelihood to cause economic or environmental harm, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources said in a release.

They were added to the ODNR invasive species lists in 2018, and landscapers, growers and nurseries were given five years’ warning before the ban took effect.

ODNR Division of Forestry Chief Dan Balser said, “Callery pear often dominates young, regenerating forest areas and inhibits the growth and establishment of native plant species. Halting the further sale and intentional propagation of Callery pear will help reduce the further introduction of this environmentally harmful tree species.”

Their spread is most visible in the spring, when their white blooms are seen in abandoned fields, along highways and in wooded areas, as well as on neighborhood streets.

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Editor's note: This story was originally published in the Dayton Daily News.