Bradford pears may be pretty, but pack an environmental punch. How to get rid of the trees

A Bradford pear tree in bloom is a sure sign that springtime is in the air.

You may have noticed the trees by the delicate white flowers they carry, adding to the beautiful seasonal backdrop.

However, environmentalists warn that these trees are a threat.

Introduced in the mid-1960s, the popular cultivar of Callery pear was once a favorite among landscapers. They were also pest-resistant and disease-free.

Today, these trees are known to be an invasive species, growing rapidly and outperforming native plants. The fruits the trees produce are also inedible to humans and provide little to no food for insects, harming the ecosystem.

"Birds consume the fruit after frost has softened it, subsequently spreading it, and new suckers can sprout from cut stumps or large roots that are close to the soil surface. It can be very abundant in old fields," said Clemson University.

Here's what to know about Bradford pear trees and what native alternatives you can plant instead.

What is a Bradford pear? Why is it bad?

Bradford pear trees are a variety of the callery pear, which was introduced to the U.S. from Asia in the early 1900s in an attempt to fight the fire blight of the common pear.

The seeds of these trees are easily dispersed by birds, which allows them to "invade open spaces such as pastures, grassland and open woodlands," according to the OSU Extension. The trees grow quickly and form dense thickets, shading out native species and changing plant and wildlife communities.

The dense structure of the tree makes it a good roosting place for gregarious blackbirds, grackles and starlings, which are problematic in urban areas.

Also, the trees are weak and easily damaged by ice and wind, causing trouble for utilities during bad weather.

And, of course, OSU Extension notes that the flowers that bloom in the spring produce an unpleasant smell of rotting fish.

What are native tree alternatives to Bradford pears?

OSU Extension recommends these native trees to plant as an alternative to the pretty but harmful Bradford pear trees:

• Eastern redbud
• American plum
• Mexican plum
• Carolina buckthorn

How to get rid of Bradford pear trees

The Extension also recommends having "zero tolerance" for the tree species, and in addition to not planting them, Oklahomans should actually start removing the trees they can.

The trees must be completely uprooted, or the use of herbicides is recommended. Mowing is not effective as the trees will resprout.