April 22nd, 3-6 p.m.
Missouri Department of Conservation Central Regional Office
3500 East Gans Road, Columbia, MO, 65201
On April 22nd, Missouri Invasive Plant Council (MoIP) will host a Callery pear “buyback” program in multiple locations around the state. Between 3:00 and 6:00 p.m. that day, registered citizens who have submitted a photo of a cut down Callery pear tree from their property can receive a free native tree.
The Callery (Bradford) pear is an invasive tree that can be found all over the state of Missouri and the continental U.S. These trees grow rapidly, and their seeds spread quickly. In a matter of years, they can outcompete native plants and suffocate fields, parks, and city streets. By cutting down one (or multiple!) Callery pears, homeowners can help prevent Callery pear colonization of native habitats and green spaces.
Registration is open from March 17th to April 17th. To register or find more about this event, please visit moinvasives.org or email [email protected].
MoIP is grateful to the Richard King Mellon Foundation and the Missouri Community Forestry Council for their financial support of the 2025 Callery Pear Buyback Program, as well as to Forrest Keeling Nursery and Forest ReLeaf of Missouri for tree donations. Financial and administrative support also comes from the Missouri Prairie Foundation and Missouri Department of Conservation.
If you have any questions about identifying Callery Pear trees, a few helpful photos below will give you a start on identifying this invasive tree in Missouri. The Columbia location for the callery pear buyback event will be at the Missouri Department of Conservation Central Regional office, 3500 East Gans Road, Columbia, Missouri 65201. The event will run from 3-6 p.m. on Tuesday, April 22nd. Registration is required on the MoInvasives website, or contact [email protected] for more information.
