By STEVE JASIECKI
As spring arrives you have undoubtedly noticed an abundance of white flowering trees growing just about everywhere. These trees are the highly invasive “Bradford pear."
The Bradford pear, a cultivar of the Callery pear “Pyrus Calleryana," became very popular for city architects, land developers, landscape architects and nurseries due to its affordability and ability to meet landscaping requirements. As a result, thousands of these trees were planted in street corridors, parking lots, shopping centers, and parks.
In April, when the trees bloom, their white canopy stands out, making it easy to recognize. As the petals open, they emit a strong odor similar to rotting fish. These trees were intentionally planted to beautify streetscapes and properties, but they have also started appearing in areas where they were not intended.
The petals emit a pungent odorThe previously acclaimed tree is now problematic. So many of them have been planted, that to replace them will be extremely expensive. If removed it would leave areas devoid of trees until their replacements reach a substantial height.
The problem with this tree is they are not native to America, they are highly invasive and have spread rapidly into fields, forests, roadsides and parks. Their spreading is competing with and crowding out the native trees that are beneficial to wildlife. Local wildlife depends upon the local trees, plants and flowers to sustain themselves. Non-native trees and plants do not provide that service. To sustain our wildlife, it is important that we utilize native plants and trees and remove the non-native species so wildlife can flourish.
Callery pears are just one example of invasive vegetation threatening local environments. Many other non-native plants and trees have invaded ecosystems, causing significant ecological disruption. The white canopy of the Bradford pear serves as a visual reminder of the extent to which non-native trees have spread. As the white pedals drop and are replaced with green leaves, the trees will blend in with their surroundings, making them harder to distinguish.
Callery pears have migrated and are invading forests and fields.It is recognized that invasive plant species are widely acknowledged as a major driver of ecosystem degradation. Second to habitat loss, invasive plants pose the biggest threat to wildlife as they displace native vegetation and disrupt the ecological balance.
In 2009, the New Jersey Invasive Species Council produced a Strategic Management Plan and found that 30% of the state’s flora were of non-native species. Environmental advocates worked to get legislation passed that would prohibit the sale and introduction of invasive, foreign species.
Fortunately, the Invasive Species Management Act of New Jersey passed in January of 2025. The act will restrict the sale, propagation, import and distribution of designated "prohibited invasive species." Nurseries and stores will no longer be allowed to sell or distribute invasive plants and trees. Until the law goes into full effect, it is highly recommended that when purchasing trees, shrubs and plants, make sure that they are native to New Jersey.
You can read more about the act here:
https://princetonhydro.com/nj-invasive-species-management-act/
Steve Jasiecki is the chairman of Sustainable Margate green team
