As white clusters of flowers begin to appear on suburban streets and parkways, Ohio wildlife and forestry officials are warning residents that a once-popular ornamental — the Callery pear — is in bloom and is illegal to plant or sell in the state.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Forestry posted on social media this week to remind the public the tree, long planted for its tidy shape and spring blossoms, was banned on Jan. 1, 2023 because of its invasive tendencies. “Although the Callery pear can be found throughout the state,” the agency said, “mechanical control is usually not enough” to stop its spread.
The tree’s flowers are a giveaway. ODNR describes the blooms as densely clustered, five‑petalled and white, with a powerful, unpleasant odor often compared to rotting fish. In autumn the tree produces numerous small, hard, brown fruit that are woody until frost softens them; once softened, the fruit are readily eaten by birds, which then disperse the seeds and help the species colonize natural areas.
ODNR officials urged landowners to act where the trees are young and few in number: small plants can be dug or pulled. But they warned that cutting or mechanical removal alone does not eliminate the species. “Herbicides are required to kill this aggressive plant that will resprout if cut without chemical controls,” the Division of Forestry wrote, noting that the pear will resprout vigorously from stumps or roots if chemical treatments are not applied.
The agency also outlined physical identification features to help property owners and landscapers distinguish Callery pear from other ornamentals. In addition to the white, foul-smelling flowers and tiny winter fruit, the trees have large egg‑shaped terminal buds covered in light‑brown, woolly hairs and stout reddish‑brown twigs. Young bark is smooth with lenticels and later develops scaly ridges and shallow furrows. Although many cultivars were bred to be spineless, some individuals still produce stout spines.
The ban stems from growing recognition that the tree escapes cultivation and outcompetes native vegetation, altering habitats and making restoration more difficult. Birds feeding on the fruit are a primary vector for its spread into fields, hedgerows and forests, where dense thickets can displace native plants.
ODNR advised homeowners seeking ornamental replacements to consult the agency’s guidance and local extension services for native and noninvasive alternatives. For larger infestations or trees on public right-of-way, the department recommends contacting certified arborists or local officials to coordinate removal and treatment, since improper mechanical removal can lead to resprouting and further spread.