CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Queen City is covered with lush greenery. Charlotte’s beautiful tree canopy is composed of many different types of tree species. Some trees are beloved and manicured along city streets, but others are on the chopping block.
“Right now, my favorite tree is white oak tree. It's native. And it's the bark is lovely. The leaves come out and nice bright green color. Very large, maturing, good shade. So, I really like that," Laurie Reid, the arborist for the City of Charlotte, explained. "Probably my least favorite tree honestly is Bradford pear."
Reid said Bradford pear tree does more harm than good.
“The problem is this is not native to the United States," she said.
Reid said the trees were brought in under the claim they were self-sterile, meaning they couldn't self-pollinate with the same type of tree. However, Reid said, as other pear species pollinate, the birds eat the seeds, and they deposit the seeds in other places.
"The trees that grow from those seeds are very invasive,” Reid said.
The Bradford pear was heavily planted in new neighborhoods in the 1970s, '80s, and early '90s. Developers used the trees because the trees grow in a perfectly symmetrical shape.
Today, Bradford pears are being uprooted by high winds. In fact, it happened a few weeks ago when a tornado touched down in Mecklenburg County.
“What happened is the way that the branches grow together and make a really tight 'V' structure. And as those branches get longer, the weight of rain or ice or snow will weigh that down and cause breakages during storms,” Reid said.
In most cases, the trees land on powerlines, leaving many in the dark.
For this reason, the city encourages homeowners not to plant Bradford pears on their property.
“We have an approved species list," Reid explained. "So when a new development is being developed in the city, whether it's a gas station apartment complex or single-family subdivision, they have certain requirements that they have to plant trees adjacent to the street."
Reid understands the importance of trees in the urban environment.
For every tree removed, replant a new one.
She encourages an oak tree, or the native dogwood tree, are better and safer for everyone.
Meanwhile, Bradford pears are banned in South Carolina. Other North Carolina cities like Greensboro have a bounty program: for every Bradford Pear removed, you could get a tree for free.
Officials are working to expand the program to Charlotte.
Contact KJ Jacobs at kjacobs3@wcnc.com and follow him on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.