For decades, the Callery pear — better known by its street-tree nickname “Bradford pear” — was planted across Illinois for its spring blossoms and tidy shape. It looked harmless. Pretty, even. But in 2025, the state made a decisive move: it placed the tree on the Exotic Weeds Act list and set a countdown clock. As of January 1, 2028, selling, planting, buying, or distributing Callery pear in Illinois will be illegal.
This is more than a landscaping update. It’s a major ecological reset that homeowners, gardeners, and urban planners need to understand now.
The Ban: What Exactly Is Changing?
The Illinois Exotic Weeds Act was expanded in 2025 to cover nine additional invasive species. Eight of them became regulated immediately. But the Callery pear received a longer runway — a full phase-out period until 2028 — to give nurseries and landscapers time to shift inventory and adjust planting practices.
You can see the announcement in the Illinois Extension’s update on the Exotic Weeds Act expansion, which outlines how the regulation will function for the Callery pear and eight other species.
Another breakdown from the Forest Preserve District of Will County explains why the Callery pear was handled differently and why the 2028 date matters for the industry’s transition.
After the deadline, the rule is simple: no planting, no selling, no moving this species anywhere in the state.
Why Illinois Is Doing This Now
1. The Callery Pear Turned Invasive — Fast
The tree spread aggressively across Illinois, popping up in prairies, roadsides, old fields, and even high-quality natural areas. Birds scatter their seeds far from original plantings, creating fast-growing, thorny thickets that crowd out native plants.
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources assessment notes that populations are already widespread and still expanding.
2. It Damages Natural Ecosystems
A single species taking over a habitat reduces biodiversity, alters soil, and interrupts natural regeneration cycles. This isn’t just a visual issue — it’s an ecological one. Prairie remnants, savannas, and woodland edges are particularly vulnerable.
3. Illinois Needed Regulatory Muscle
Until now, the state couldn’t stop the sale or planting of the tree. The updated law finally gives them the legal leverage to prevent human-driven spread.
A clear explanation of this regulatory shift appears in The Intelligencer’s coverage of the Callery pear ban, which details the transition timeline and the environmental motivations behind it.
What the Ban Doesn’t Do
The regulation does not require removal of any existing Callery pear already in the ground. If you have one in your yard, the state isn’t mandating you cut it down. But the law aims to stop the intentional introduction of new seedlings and clones.
Natural spread will still happen, but the state’s goal is to slow the pipeline at the source: nurseries, landscaping firms, and retailers.
Who Will Feel the Impact
Homeowners & Gardeners
If you were planning to plant a Bradford pear, the window is closing. Nurseries may stop offering them long before 2028 as stock runs out. Expect recommendations to favor native alternatives — hawthorn, serviceberry, redbud, or native crabapples.
Nurseries & Landscaping Companies
These businesses have the most work ahead. They’ll need to phase out inventory, retrain staff, update catalogs, and shift customers toward non-invasive options. Some may rethink entire planting packages that historically featured Callery pear as the “go-to” ornamental.
Urban Planners & Municipalities
City tree lists will require updates. Many towns have already banned the tree for municipal plantings, and the statewide regulation reinforces that shift. Replacement trees for streetscapes, parks, and medians will need to align with ecological goals rather than aesthetic tradition.
Natural Area Managers
For forest preserves and conservation districts, this ruling supports ongoing management — cutting, treating stumps, removing thickets, and restoring native prairie or woodland species. They now have the policy backing to discourage new plantings near sensitive areas.
Why This Ban Matters Beyond Illinois
This move sets a precedent. The Callery pear is spreading throughout the Midwest and East Coast. Illinois’ decision signals a broader shift: states are starting to regulate invasive landscaping species before they become unmanageably destructive.
Some states already restrict the tree. Others are watching Illinois’ phase-out as a potential model.
What You Should Do If You Live in Illinois
- Reconsider new plantings. Even though the ban isn’t active yet, planting one now will leave you with a tree you can’t legally sell or move later.
- If you already have one: Decide whether it’s worth keeping. Removing it is optional — but it may reduce volunteer seedlings in your yard.
- Explore alternatives. Many nurseries are already recommending native tree options with spring flowers but no invasive impact.
- Stay informed. Extension offices, conservation groups, and local forest preserves will continue sharing guidance during the transition.
The Callery pear ban is not a random crackdown — it’s a long-overdue correction. Illinois is phasing out a tree that once seemed harmless but turned into a statewide ecological headache. The 2028 deadline gives everyone time to adapt, but the shift is already underway.
