The Bradford Pear Bounty is back! After a successful inaugural event in April, NC's Bradford Pear Bounty is coming to two new towns this fall: October 15, 2022 in Matthews (Mecklenburg County) and October 22, 2022 in Monroe (Union County).

This program encourages homeowners to remove their landscape Bradford pear or other planted cultivars of Pyrus calleryana (e.g., Chanticleer, Cleveland Select, Aristocrat) and replace them with free, native trees. 

Homeowners who want to participate in this event must pre-register and bring proof of tree removal to the event. Replacement trees are in 3 or 5 gallon containers and there are many native species to choose from. Up to 5 pear trees can be removed for up to 5 free replacements.

Why a bounty on the Bradford pear? As a landscape tree, it is known for breaking easily and giving off a not-so-wonderful odor. While that isn't ideal, the biggest problem is that it is invasive. Wild offspring of the Bradford pear and other P. calleryana cultivars invade fields, vacant lots, forest edges, and forest understories. They displace our native trees, reduce wildlife value, and create thorny thickets that are difficult to manage. They are not just a nuisance to landowners, but an ecological threat to our native ecosystems.

Learn more and register to participate at treebountync.com.