Five flowering trees to plant instead of Bradford Pear

The popularity – and shortcomings – of ‘Bradford’ encouraged the introduction of additional cultivars, which caused an unforeseen liability to develop: invasiveness. The new cultivars cross-pollinated with ‘Bradford’ and with one another, allowing small, corky, rounded pears to develop. Though they aren’t remotely edible to humans, they are relished by birds, which led to  the tree spreading into natural areas. In the wild (especially in warmer climates), they form dense communities that out-compete native vegetation and can even make areas entirely impassible. To date, they are known to be invasive in at least 25 states, and are banned from being sold or planted in at least 17 of them. While these bans are good news for nature lovers and conservationists, they pose challenges to garden centers, landscapers, and homeowners, who have been using Bradford pear as a go-to tree for decades.

The good news is that those who need or want an alternative to Bradford pear are spoiled for choice. There are many other options that are equally, if not more, beautiful, offer benefits that Bradford pears do not, and have none of the baggage. Whether you are looking to plant a new tree or replace an existing Bradford pear, these five options will look great in your yard – and let you sleep well at night.