MinervaFlora January Update

For 2026 I will be presenting monthly articles delving in to which native plants can replace invasive plants in your yard and in our community. Invasive plants are non-native species that outcompete our native plants for resources (light, water, nutrients) and alter the biodiversity found in our natural lands, often by taking over our native plants. According to entomologist and author Doug Tallamy, our landscapes should be supporting food webs and pollinators, sequestering carbon, and helping to manage watersheds. By removing invasives non-natives (at least a percentage of the latter) and replacing with native plants, our landscapes can better support these important efforts in our environment.

This month’s focus will be on Callery Pear and its possible replacements. The Callery Pear tree came to the U.S. from East Asia in the early 1900’s for fire blight resistance in commercial pears. Cultivars like the Bradford Pear (released in 1961) became popular because of their quick growth, spring flowers and fall color. They were thought to be sterile, but proved to be invasive due to cross-pollination, damaging landscapes as they grew. Other cultivars like Cleveland Select arrived to improve on the Bradford’s weak branching structure. The trees can be beautiful in spring with the mass of white flowers and fall brings beautiful foliage, but don’t be fooled - this tree is a THUG! These trees are now banned in many states including Ohio!

So, what should you replace them with? 

Introducing Serviceberry (Amelanchier) and Black Tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica).

Serviceberry prefers moist, well-drained, acidic soil, full sun to part shade and lives around 60 years. The shrub form grows 5-10’, while the tree form can grow to 25’. It has white flowers in the spring, edible fruit and nice fall color, but is deciduous (sheds it’s leaves in fall). Bees and butterflies like the flowers and wildlife eat the berries. Fun Fact: This shrub is named Serviceberry because the spring blooms historically signaled that the ground had thawed enough to dig the graves to have funeral services. Its other common name, Shadbush comes from the timing of the spring run of Shadfish up-river for spawning.

Black Tupelo is a slow growing, 30-50’ tall deciduous tree with great fall color likes moist, acidic soil, but is adaptable. It prefers full sun to part shade, has four season interest, small flowers and blue/black berries that birds and mammals love. It also attracts a wide range of bees, butterflies, moths and flies. It is a larval host for many moths.

Fun Facts:

1. Its durable wood is used for barrel plugs.

2. It is one of the oldest non-clonal flowering plants in Eastern North America (grows from one seed).

3. Honey bees love its flowers, therefore Tupelo Honey!