25 January 2024
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – The Kansas Department of Agriculture wants to prevent a certain kind of ornamental pear trees from being planted in the state. It’s called a “permanent quarantine” and was up for discussion for a public hearing on Wednesday.
“They’re not a great tree for our climate, but they do expand into the natural areas, so they’re going to out-compete native species in those wild areas and just not be good for the ecosystem in that way,” President of Johnson’s Garden Center and Jeremy Johnson said.
Significant public input was received in the summer of 2023 to support the slowed production and planting of the tree due to its invasive nature. Local tree service companies say that the Bradford pear tree is the most commonly called about when weather hits, as their limbs can be brittle and snap easily.
“Every time the wind blows, or heavy snow or even sometimes just rain and the leaves are heavy, those trees are our biggest call,” Wichita Tree Service owner Robert Phillips said.
According to Phillips, a fix that could help the pear tree issue would be to plant more trees that are native to the Kansas environment.
“They do the best here and are suited to our climate. If they’re more spread out and it’s more biodiverse, the chances of spread is less likely,” he said.
While the proposed quarantine would become effective this year, the language includes a three-year grace period. The quarantine restrictions would not be enforced until Jan. 1, 2027.