Recently, we have observed large numbers of white-flowered, cone-shaped trees dotting Ohio’s landscape.
These attractive, cone shaped trees can be seen on hillsides, along village and city streets, on rural roads and even in parks where they have been purposely planted to enhance the areas. In recent years, these trees can be seen almost everywhere we travel and, although they are attractive to look at, they are taking over the rural landscapes.
These trees are the popular Bradford Pears (also known as Callery Pear) which are native to China and Vietnam. With their almost perfect cone shape, white blooms in the spring and rapid growth, they have become popular as ornamental plantings after being introduced to the U.S. in the late 1960s. The Bradford Pear also thrives in difficult growing conditions such as grassy areas between streets and sidewalks in cities and islands in mall parking lots; a trait which has made them popular with municipal planners. They line the streets of our nearby village, New Concord, and add to the small town’s charm.
Mature trees have, however, cause problems. The stress caused by strong wind and heavy snow often causes parts of their weak trunks to tear away and damage the sidewalks, cars or homes they fall on. Still, they have remained a popular ornamental attraction until the last few years when people realized the trees were taking over large land areas with their fast growing and shading characteristics and making it more difficult for other species to grow. For these reasons, the Bradford Pear has been listed as an invasive species and can no longer be purchased or sold in Ohio.
The Bradford Pear is not the only plant introduced to our ecosystem and then later added to the invasive species list. The Multiflora Rose which is native to Eastern Asia is a bushy plant with stickers on every branch that will tear your clothes and put multiple scratches on your arms and legs when you pass too close or try to remove it.
Multiflora Rose plants can grow from 10 to 15 feet tall and spread almost as wide. At one time the United States Department of Agriculture encouraged its use for erosion control, wildlife habitat and natural fencing. It was even used in median strips on highways to reduce headlight glare and act as a barrier for out-of-control drivers. Now Multiflora Rose is taking over many pasture fields and woodlands, making some woods impassible. Multiflora Rose is spread by birds eating and dropping red berries from the plant. It is estimated these seeds will stay viable for 10 to 20 years.
A third plant of concern in our area is the Autumn Olive. This tree is from Asia and can grow to 20 feet in height with a wealth of thorns on every branch. The U.S. Department of Agriculture encouraged the planting of Autumn Olive in the late 1900s on strip mine reclamation land to help control erosion and serve as wildlife feed and cover. It was well suited for strip mine ground because it fixes atmospheric nitrogen in its roots and it can grow well on very infertile soil.
But, Autumn Olive is now displacing native plants by leafing out well before these native plants, thus shading and inhibiting the growth and life of our normal plants. Autumn Olive is spread by bird droppings of seeds. Each plant can produce up to 200,000 seeds which can be spread over thousands of acres of land.
Our Ohio ecosystem with its rich diversity of plant life is everchanging. It is difficult to judge the future results of intervening with its natural flow. The Bradford Pear, Multiflora Rose and Autumn Olive are three species that we probably should have left out of it.
Chuck Bell is a former 4-H Educator for Muskingum County.
This article originally appeared on Farmers Advance: Three invasive species were once popular to plant in Ohio
Reporting by Chuck Bell / Farmers Advance
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
