To raise awareness about how the invasive
Callery pear (Pyrus calleryana) causes harm to
both regional economies and the environment,
the Missouri Invasive Plant Task Force (MoIP), an
inter-agency and inter-organizational resource of
the Missouri Prairie Foundation's "Grow Native!"
program, partnered with Forest ReLeaf of Missouri
and Forrest Keeling Nursery for a Callery pear "buy-
back" program that took place on April 26, 2019.
People who supplied photos of themselves
with a cut-down, in-bloom Callery pear tree
in their yard received a free native tree to
replace it. The offer was limited to one native
tree per photographic proof of cut-down tree.
Participants were invited to pick up their trees
at Forest Releaf CommuniTree Gardens Nursery,
located in Creve Coeur Park in St. Louis.
The organizations caution owners to properly
identify Callery pear against other native, non-
invasive trees with white flowers blooming in
April, including serviceberry, wild plum, and dog-
woods. This web page from the City of Columbia
offers photos of native trees for comparison. >>
Examples of evidence of pear cut-downs homeowners supplied in order to qualify for a native tree.
Forest ReLeaf of Missouri and the "Grow Native!"
program of the Missouri Prairie Foundation were among
the organizations providing education at the event.
30 CityTREES
