rland Grassland

THE CALLERY PEAR CHALLENGE                           

HOW DID WE GET HERE? 

WHY DO WE CARE?  

WHAT HAS BEEN DONE TO PROHIBIT CALLERY PEAR?

How did we get here?

Callery pear (Pyrus calleryana) is an Asian tree hybrid to provide many advantages.  Beautiful, poor-soil tolerant, seedless, blight resistant, the intent was to create the perfect ornamental tree.   

Many cultivars were co-mingled by pollinators creating a dangerous and highly invasive tree that takes decades to overcome.  In an urban setting, it’s a nuisance with a nasty smell and v-shaped branches that break easily.  In open areas, it escapes and infests public lands, greenways, easements and ecological grasslands at an alarming rate.

A perfect storm

The greatest infestation occurs when farms and open areas are newly developed into residential and commercial settings.  Single-family homes, residential complexes, commercial campuses, long driveways and suburban streets needing parkway trees are landscaped using callery pear extensively.  Why not?  They’re a beautiful focal point.  The owners and caregivers are unaware of the damage being caused.  The landscapes stay neat and tidy with mowed lawns and mulched landscaped areas diligently weeded.  The escape into surrounding open areas, however, is ferocious.

Why do we care?

Grasslands are especially vulnerable to callery pear.  In just a couple of years grasslands will go from prime breeding habitat for rare birds to a thickly wooded area bringing a fundamental halt to a complex ecosystem.  Grasslands are very important to combat climate change.  A healthy grassland can sequester more carbon than a callery pear monoculture.  We need to protect our grassland ecosystems from collapse.

What has been done to prohibit callery pear?

Many states have banned callery pear and have removal/trade-in programs.  In October 2025, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources added callery pear and eight other invasive species to the Illinois Exotic Weeds Act.  Under this Act, it is illegal to buy, sell, distribute, or plant the listed species in Illinois.  For the eight other species, the Act is effective immediately.  For callery pear, the Act takes effect on January 1, 2028 to allow growers a phase-out period to reduce their stock.

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Read more about the addition of callery pear and eight other species to the Illinois Exotic Weeds Acts here.

Education is key.  Using a 3-tiered approach, influence the greatest numbers of stewards, land managers, advocacy groups and State officials (stakeholders) to educate and engage the general public.

Suitable replacements:  Redbud, American Plum, Serviceberry, Flowering Dogwood, Hawthorn, Flowering Crab.