Smelly Bradford pears begin blooming in Mid-MO

Folks heading outdoors in the early spring may catch a whiff of a foul odor as the infamous Bradford pears are beginning to bloom. These trees are popular for their visual beauty but their stench may keep you admiring them from a distance.

Bradford pears have long been used as ornamental trees to enhance the landscape with their beautiful white blossoms in the spring. But anyone who has a Bradford pear nearby knows they look a lot nicer than they smell.

The stench isn't the only problem. Bradford pears are considered invasive in much of the United States as they grow and spread quickly and outcompete native species. Because of their fast growth, these trees are generally more brittle and weaker than other trees.

While they don't grow as quickly, flowering dogwood trees can be a much more pleasant addition to the landscape without the stench. The flowering dogwood is native to Missouri—it is our state tree—and it is more resilient to the weather we face here.

Dogwood trees grow outward horizontally, giving the tree a flatter look that is more resistant to high winds. The invasive Bradford pears are more v-shaped as their branches grow at a higher angle toward the sky. This shape actually makes the Bradford pear more susceptible to wind gusts and increases the danger of property damage when these trees fall during severe storms.

If you are looking to replace a Bradford pear, the Missouri Invasive Plant Council is offering a buyback program on April 22nd at several locations across the state. Those who register by April 17th can have their pear tree replaced with a variety of native trees that can enhance the landscape without any unpleasant odor.