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Ban The Callery Pear


Remember these names: Pyrus Calleryana, Bradford Pear, Callery Pear. They are the same, and wanted for murder of anything that surrounds them.

Why do we plant them? Because they are cheep and easy to produce. In fact, they are so easy to produce that birds eating the seeds will populate the tree wherever the birds travel. They are uncontrolled. They are invasive. They steel from our native plants and trees. This is probably because they are early bloomers in the season, taking in all of the nutrients from the soil, taking a bigger root/grip on the land, hindering/preventing other native beauties from growing or flourishing.

"Terrestrial Plant Rule: The Terrestrial Plant Rule (312IAC 18-3-25) designates 44 species of plants as invasive pests. This rule makes it illegal to sell, gift, barter, exchange, distribute, transport, or introduce these plants in the State of Indiana." (Unkown1)

So, why is this invasive tree not on the Indiana Terrestrial Plant Rule list? Let's face it. Politicians are in government to be our servants. However they have found that politics can line their pockets, with little effort on their part.

"Research indicates that the landscaping trade is responsible for just over 80% of invasive species growing in Indiana." (Ryenolds)  The industry is lobbying our politicians, giving them money.

Cheap now, and pay me later. Yes, contractors will continue to use them because they are readily available at a low cost. Homeowners and municipalities are stuck with the bill to remove them when they become the monoculture of trees.

What states have or will be banning this tree? Ohio, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Missouri.

What cities in Indiana have or will be banning this tree? South Bend. (I know of no other city. Please update me if you are aware of any other city.) 

As a Hoosier what can we do? First, visit the Indiana Native Plant Society website by clinking "here". Click on their link where you can "comment on the proposed terrestrial plant rule here." (Unkown2) Find the Rule Name, then add your comment. (NOTE: As of this blog the rule is no longer posted, presumably because it was voted on. Still, a good source to keep track of for other rules and commenting.)

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References:

Unknown. ""Wow! What a Beautiful Bloom! Right?" . . . WRONG!" Indiana Dunes National Park Facebook Page, 25 Apr. 2023, www.facebook.com/IndianaDunesNPS. Accessed 28 Apr. 2023.

Reynolds, Heather. "Bradford Pear Trees Are Highly Invasive. This Is Why They Aren't Banned in Indiana." Indiana University - Environmental Resilience Institute, 6 Apr. 2021, eri.iu.edu/news-and-events/_news/archive/2021/20210406-council-considers-banning-invasive-bradford-pear-tree-indiana.html. Accessed 28 Apr. 2023.

Unkown1. "Terrestrial Invasive Species - Plants." DND Indiana Department of Natural Resources, 18 Apr. 2019, www.in.gov/dnr/rules-and-regulations/invasive-species/terrestrial-invasive-species-plants/#:~:text=The%20Terrestrial%20Plant%20Rule%20(312,the%20Terrestrial%20Plant%20Rule%20Brochure. Accessed 28 Apr. 2023.

Saenz, Enrique. "Invasive Pear Tree Threatens Indiana's Native Plants." DND Indiana Department of Natural Resources, 20 Sept. 2018, www.indianaenvironmentalreporter.org/posts/invasive-pear-tree-threatens-indiana-s-native-plants. Accessed 28 Apr. 2023.

Unkown2. "Why Callery Pear Was Pulled From Invasive Plant Rule." https://indiananativeplants.org/2018/callery-pear-pulled-from-invasive-plant-rule/. Accessed 28 Apr. 2023.


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