By MATT PIKE
The Missouri Department of Conservation is asking residents to remove the invasive Callery Pear tree species, and in turn you can register for a tree in return.
Now through April 16th, residents who have a Callery Pear tree in their yard can register the tree with the department and pick up a native tree species to plant in its place.
Northwest forester Timothy Wolfe says the Callery pear is an invasive plant that can take over the area native plants to northwest Missouri want to grow in
“Although they do look pretty to a lot of people out there with their flowers in the spring time and their coming on pretty heavy right now, it’s important to remember that those particular trees they can overtake an understory or an open space in a hurry, and then that doesn’t let any of our native plants grow in their place,” Wolfe says on the KFEQmunnity show. “So, it’s important to remember that’s why we need to get rid of them, because they are spreading across the state of Missouri, it’s not just up here in the northwest, it’s southwest, central northeast, and southeast, so all the areas of Missouri.”
Wolfe says right now is an easier time to make out a Callery Pear if you don't know what the species looks like
"They have basically a white pedaling look to them, you’re going to start seeing that across the landscape, other species are similar to it but these invasive species are generally going to flower a lot sooner rather than what a native species will, so that’s a good way to look at them,” Wolfe explains. “Other characteristics are going to be the little bit thornier looking branches to them, along with those white looking plants.”
In response, a buyback event will be hosted on April 21st. People around the state with these trees have until April 16th to cut down, and register their trees on Mo Invasive Plants DOT org.
Wolfe says when you register that tree on the website
"Once you reserve that tree, you’ll get one free native tree to replace in it’s place,” Wolfe says. “So it's not a money situation where we’re giving someone money back, but we’re giving someone a free native tree to work with.”
Buyback events are happening all around the state. The event in St. Joseph has 25 trees to give away to those that register. All tree pickups are happening April 21st from 3 to 6pm
You can find a list of buyback locations on the website when you register your tree.
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.