Bradford bristles have invaded Kansas City, and the locals want them out. here’s why

This isn’t your body odor that makes you wrinkle your nose when you walk around Kansas City during the spring.

As flowers and trees begin to bloom as temperatures rise, an invasive tree species is known for its foul odor, and local organizations are trying to prevent its spread.

The Callery tree, also known as the Bradford pear, appears in the area in early spring. The Kansas Department of Agriculture has ordered a quarantine against these trees, effective January 1, 2027. This means that people are prohibited from moving these trees within the state, and others are not allowed to bring these trees in from other states .

The Missouri Invasive Plant Council is also hosting a “buyback” program at locations around the state on April 23, where homeowners are invited to cut down one or more Callery plums and receive a free non-invasive tree in exchange.

So what are these trees that Kansas and Missouri are hoping to rid their states of? Why are they such a problem? Here’s what we know.

What is a Callery pear?

The Callery tree is oval in shape and grows symmetrically, Kansas horticulturist Dennis Patton previously wrote for The Star. The tree is covered in white flowers in spring and has glossy green leaves.

In autumn, the tree is covered in crimson, purple and orange colors, and the tree can tolerate heat and drought.

The tree can grow in any type of soil. The Callery tree quickly became the go-to tree for lining streets and beautifying backyards because of its adaptability, said Patton, a longtime Star columnist who recently died after a battle with lung cancer.

The Callery tree is native to Asia and grows in China and Taiwan, according to the Missouri Department of Conservation.

Why do Callery brushes smell?

Callery bristles give off an odor that the Missouri Department of Conservation describes as a “fetid, dead animal smell.”

Flowers are meant to attract flies, including flies, which serve as pollinators. The smell serves as a way to attract flies to the tree.

Why is Callery hair invasive?

The Callery tree is invasive because it can grow in any type of soil. The tree itself grows sterile fruit, but thanks to cross-pollination, some of its varieties, such as the Bradford pear, grow fertile fruit.

Wildlife will eat the fruit the trees produce, defecating and spreading the seeds in areas such as bare land and grasslands, Patton wrote.

Those seeds, spread by birds, have now become established in various Kansas landscapes, from Kansas City to southeastern Kansas, according to the Kansas Forest Service.

They can also crowd out and shade our native plants, reducing the diversity of plants and animals in the area, according to the Missouri Department of Conservation.

“Wild forms often develop characteristics of the original Chinese trees, including robust thorns that make them difficult to clear,” the department wrote on its website. “Thorns also deter deer from browsing them.”