South Carolina knocked Bradford down

FLORENCESC — Spring is in bloom and the presence of Bradford hair grows in the minds of South Carolinians as its scent once again fills the air.

The invasive species blooms in early spring with white flowers, while its fruit and leaves grow back from winter. But don’t be fooled by its beauty.

Selling the popular tree became illegal in South Carolina in October, and with the arrival of spring, spotting and removing these trees has become easier to do.

“That Callery pear competes with many of our native plants, which have helped keep our ecosystems healthy and support a lot of the wildlife we ​​have,” said David Jenkins of the SC Forestry Commission. “That’s why we’re against it, but basically we’re seeing it in a lot of places we don’t want to see it and it’s becoming a problem.”

Bristles can be identified by their white blooms in early spring and narrow branches. They have light gray bark and oval shaped leaves. They usually grow to about 25 feet in height.

Bradford pears hybridize with other pears and grow very quickly, which damages the native species.

“They’ll take up space and suffocate native plants, which then reduces the amount of biodiversity and is very detrimental to local insect pollination,” said Ryan Valadez, Forest Lake Greenhouse nursery and marketing manager. “Very few can actually use the Bradford hair as a food source or home, so it decreases our native insect population.”

Valadez said not many people go looking for Bradford pears anymore, but if they do, he redirects them to similar trees that are better suited to the area. He said because of the nuisance and the smell, the Bradford pear is falling out of favor with most customers anyway.

“They weren’t particularly popular,” he said. “I don’t think we’ve had anyone this year. Last year, maybe two or three.”

Some of the native trees at the nursery that are aesthetically similar include ornamental cherries, huckleberries, fringe trees, and silverbells.

Jenkins said those who already have hedgerows should plant native trees and try to have a diversity of native plants in their yard. The ban on these trees is for their sale, but does not make their possession illegal.

“Banning the sale has little impact on the populations that are already there, but the sale of invasive plants is one of the biggest drivers of their spread,” Jenkins said in an email.

In addition, Clemson’s Extension Service had a reward program for people who remove Bradford pears from their yard. If participants show proof of the tree’s removal, they can ask to plant a native tree in its place.

Florence does not have a branch, but South Carolina residents can attend any in the state. The closest exchange event was in Marion, but the bounty ended for the season. Dates are yet to be announced for 2025.

The types of trees that are available for exchange vary by location. Participants can receive up to five new native trees.