Bradford Pear Bounty Coming to Hayesville

Clay County residents have a chance to turn an invasive problem into a positive change for their

landscape through the 2026 Bradford Pear Bounty. N.C. Cooperative Extension in Clay County

and the Clay County Master Gardeners are partnering with state and conservation organizations

to help property owners remove Bradford pear trees and replace them with native alternatives.

Once planted across neighborhoods for their early white blooms and bright fall color, Bradford

pears (Pyrus calleryana) have proven to be more trouble than they’re worth. While they may

look attractive in the spring, they are known for their unpleasant odor, brittle limbs that split in

storms, and shallow root systems that struggle in high winds. Beyond the yard, the real issue

begins. Bradford pears spread aggressively by seed, escaping into roadsides, fields, and

woodlands where they crowd out native plants and form dense thickets that disrupt wildlife

habitat.

The Bradford Pear Bounty program gives landowners a practical reason to act. Participants may

exchange up to five Bradford pear trees for an equal number of native replacement trees. In

doing so, homeowners not only improve the safety and long-term health of their own property

but also contribute to protecting local forests and open spaces from further invasion.

Participants are responsible for cutting down the trees and must provide documentation of

removal at the scheduled exchange event. Native trees are distributed on a first-come, first-

served basis to those who pre-register.

What began as a popular landscaping trend has become a widespread ecological challenge across

North Carolina. This program offers Clay County residents a simple way to be part of the

solution, removing a high-maintenance tree and replacing it with one that supports pollinators,

wildlife, and long-term landscape health.

For registration details and event information, visit go.ncsu.edu/claybbp or contact the Clay

County Extension office at (828) 389-6305.