KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Missouri Department of Conservation wants to get rid of those smelly, invasive Bradford pear trees.
This spring, the state agency has teamed up with other Missouri groups to help homeowners replace them.
Bradford pear trees, also known as Callery pear trees, are considered a problem due to their tendency to break apart during storms, multiply quickly and then overwhelm native plants by creating dense thickets.
They grew in popularity back in the 1960s since they were inexpensive and have pretty white flowers.
“But the bad outweighs the good,” MDC Forestry Field Programs Supervisor Russell Hinnah said in a release. Now they’re infamous for their stinky smell and are spreading nearly everywhere.
That’s why the Missouri Department of Conservation, Missouri Invasive Plant Council, Forest ReLeaf of Missouri and Forrest Keeling Nursery are hosting a Callery pear buy-back event in April.
Missourians who cut down the Callery/Bradford pear tree on their property can receive a free, native tree in return.
All you have to do is register online for the event and upload a picture of your cut-down Bradford pear tree.
Then pick up your new tree at the buy-back event, which is scheduled from 3-6 p.m. April 23 in several participating cities:
Kansas City
St. Joseph
Columbia
St. Louis
Cape Girardeau
Farmington
Kennett
Springfield
Joplin
Lebanon
Hannibal
Rolla
West Plains
Kirksville
More details on the location and directions will be provided after your register.
The organization Deep Roots is also hosting several other Kansas City-area buy-back events, including in Fairway, Lee’s Summit and Parkville. Find more details here.
