Menu Close

How did the Bradford pear tree get its name?

How did the Bradford pear tree get its name?

This one tree did not have the thorns of other callery pears; it was free of diseases and pests and held together in storms. In selecting this individual to mass-produce, Creech named it Bradford after the station’s former head, F.C. Bradford.

Do Bradford pear trees produce fruit?

Although the ‘Bradford’ pear was originally bred as sterile and thornless, they readily cross-pollinate with other cultivars of callery pears and subsequently produce viable fruit. The ripened fruit is eaten and disseminated by birds, which results in very thorny thickets of wild pear trees.

Why are Callery pears bad?

The true Callery Pear from China is even worse than these ‘Bradford’ varieties. The Chinese Native version produces thorns that can get up to 4″ long, similar to a Honey Locust. These thorns can injure people, animals, and puncture tires.

Where does the Bradford pear tree come from?

Ecology: Callery ‘Bradford’ Pear originates from China and is widely used to landscape residential developments. However, this invasive tree is aggressive and will invade disturbed areas and displace native plant communities. Bradford Pear spreads by animal-dispersed seeds.

What kind of smell does a Bradford pear have?

As aforementioned, the semll of Bradford pears is akin to fish rotting on a bank or the smell of sex. This is not the particular smell you want to walk out the front door to on the way to work. The Bradford pear has even been coined as the “semen tree” on Urban Dictionary for its atrocious odor.

How much does it cost to remove a Bradford pear tree?

Removing Bradford Pear Trees If you decide to remove the Bradford pear tree and replace it with a pear tree that’s stronger and has edible fruit, you can have the tree removed professionally for between $500 and $1000. However, because Bradford pears keep most of their energy in their shoots and roots, there’s a chance the tree can grow back.

Are there any Bradford pear trees in Kentucky?

Notorious for their funky-smelling flowers, these blooming trees are a sign of spring in many places — but that’s not to say they’re welcomed with smiling faces. The invasiveness of ‘Bradford’ pears has become so bad that a county in Kentucky is offering a free alternative tree to anyone who cuts down a ‘Bradford’ in their yard.