Bradford pear, or Pyrus calleryana, were once considered desirable ornamental trees. Fast-growing, low-maintenance and covered in white blooms every spring - what more could you ask for? Today, however, these trees are condemned as an ecological threat, feared for their aggressive habit.
Not only do Bradford pear trees outcompete native species, but their rapid growth and weak branch structure make them prone to splitting during stormy weather. And this is to say nothing of the foul smell of the flowers - likened to rotting fish, which does not quite have the same appeal as cherry or apple blossom.
