About BradfordPears.com
The Authoritative Guide to America’s Most Regrettable Tree
BradfordPears.com exists for one simple reason: Bradford pear trees have been one of the most widely planted—and most widely regretted—landscape trees in America.
For decades they were promoted as the perfect ornamental tree: fast growing, symmetrical, covered in bright white spring flowers, and followed by glossy green leaves that became crimson in the Fall. Developers loved them. Municipalities planted them by the thousands. Homeowners admired them from their sidewalks.
Then the problems began.
Weak crotches.
Catastrophic storm damage.
Invasive offspring spreading into natural areas.
And, of course, the unforgettable springtime aroma that has launched a thousand jokes.
Today many cities and states are actively discouraging or banning Bradford Pears. Yet millions remain standing in neighborhoods, parking lots, school campuses, and commercial landscapes across the country.
This site exists to document the story, explain the problems, and help people make better planting decisions going forward.
Along the way, we’ll also acknowledge the absurdity of how this tree became so common in the first place.
Because sometimes the best way to talk about a bad idea…
is with a little well-deserved humor.
What You’ll Find Here
BradfordPears.com combines serious horticultural information with a side of sarcasm.
Topics on this site include:
• Why Bradford pear trees became so popular
• The structural and ecological problems they create
• Why many states and municipalities are banning them
• Better alternative trees for home landscapes and communities
• Proper tree planting techniques
• Removal and replacement guidance
You’ll also find a growing list of cities and states that have restricted or banned Bradford pear trees, along with resources communities can use if they are considering similar action.
And yes…there may be a few wisecracks along the way.
About the Author
BradfordPears.com is written and curated by Russell Camp, a horticulture professional with more than four decades of experience in landscape design and construction, landscape management, campus grounds operations, and plant selection in the southeastern United States. He has been a horticulture instructor at the technical college level. He is degreed in Ornamental Horticulture and Business Management and is a Georgia Certified Landscape Professional, holding Certificate No.1.
Russell currently oversees horticulture operations for a large public K-12 school system in Georgia. His work includes landscape design and installation, irrigation management, sports turf management, pest control contract management and the long-term planning and maintenance of large campus landscapes.
Over the years he has seen firsthand how plant selection decisions—good and bad—affect landscapes for decades.
Few trees illustrate this lesson more clearly than the Bradford Pear.
BradfordPears.com grew out of years of professional experience combined with a simple observation:
When it comes to Bradford pears, almost everyone eventually learns the same lesson.
Just....don't.
