In this WHYY PBS article, Jason Parker from Davey's North Philadelphia office shares information about Pennsylvania's new ban on callery pear trees.
Sought after for its fluffy white blossoms, the Callery pear tree has been a popular feature on people’s lawns for decades.
The ornamental tree, known for its pungent and sometimes foul smell, is one of the first to bloom in early spring.
“I think the biggest reason that they’re popular is because of the showy white flowers, and because the canopy stays relatively narrow,” said arborist Jason Parker, of Davey Tree Company. “So in a development, it was a good tree to plant in peoples’ front yards — it kind of increases the curb appeal.”
However, birds and other animals can spread the seeds, so the trees grow vastly and crowd out native plants, disrupting ecosystems.
Pennsylvania stopped the sale of the majestic tree, native to Asia, in February. The state, which added the tree to its noxious weed list in 2021, is just one of more than a dozen that have recently banned — or want to ban — the tree.
To read more of Jason's information, click here.
For more information, contact the North Philadelphia Davey office.
The Davey Tree Expert Company provides research-driven tree services, grounds maintenance and environmental consulting for residential, utility, commercial and environmental partners in the U.S. and Canada. Established in 1880 and headquartered in Kent, Ohio, Davey has over 12,000 employees and is the ninth largest employee-owned company in the U.S. This year, Davey celebrates 45 years of employee ownership – Join us and apply today!
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