Bradford Pear (Pyrus calleryana)

A row of Bradford Pears

A friend of mine calls the Bradford Pear a “weed tree.” Each spring when they flower and dot the streets like so many fluffy white Q-tips, it becomes apparent just how many were planted across the city. According to Edward Sibley Barnard, the author of the indispensable field guide New York City Trees, this species of Callery Pear was planted in abundance after 1963. Among the Bradford Pear’s desirable traits are its resistance to disease and tolerance of soil compaction and pollution. The tree’s aforementioned flowers and glossy green leaves that turn purple in the fall are other recommendations.

The danger of overplanting a particular species is that it creates what’s called a monoculture. While it’s true that a long line of similar trees creates a picturesque boulevard, that same boulevard won’t look so tidy when each and every tree has been ravaged by the same pest or disease. By planting a variety of species, you increase the odds that some of the trees on the boulevard will survive.

Advertisement

Tags: Bradford Pear tree, monoculture