22 City Trees
Fall color reveals how many pears have invaded this pasture in Columbia, Missouri. Photo by Brett O'Brien
Back 20 to 25 years ago, Bradford pear was about
the only tree planted by the City of Columbia, South Carolina.
At the time, it was the new tree to plant. Bradford pears
offered beautiful spring flowers, great fall color, and few if any
disease or pest problems. They tolerated our hot and humid
environment well. It seemed as though they were a great fit
for our tight spaces and tough urban areas. However, as the
trees grew over the years, the branch angles got tighter and
tighter and the limbs became heavier at the ends. The limbs
would eventually get heavy enough to split off and leave a
hole in the trunk.
With each afternoon thunderstorm in the spring and summer,
we lose whole sections of Bradford pear trees and we have
to remove more of the remaining individuals to prevent addi-
tional risk to people or proper ty. Stumps and root systems
must be ground thoroughly; otherwise, the tree can re-sprout
relatively quickly, and that adds to the invasiveness problem
as those re-sprouting trees mature to flowering and fruiting.
We have been slowly working to eliminate these trees and do
not plant them because of the glaring problems. Although we
still occasionally receive a request for a Bradford pear, most
residents have seen the damage and want a more suitable
replacement. The real question now is, what are we currently
planting that will cause trouble down the road?
—Sara E. Hollar, Superintendent, Public Works-
Forestry and Beautification Division, Columbia, South
Carolina
