Callery Pear Tree Exchange

Henrico County is launching a free native-tree exchange program for residents who remove invasive Callery and Bradford pear trees from their properties. The Sustainability Division will hold the tree exchange event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30 at Meadow Farm Museum at Crump Park, 3400 Mountain Road. Native trees will be available for a one-to-one exchange per invasive pear tree. Supplies are limited to three per household while supplies last. To receive a native tree, individuals must register online and provide photographs or video indicating that they have removed an invasive pear tree. Tree removal should be performed by a certified arborist or landscaper, following guidelines from the Virginia Department of Forestry. Available replacement species include sweetbay magnolia, Eastern redbud, flowering dogwood, elderberry, river birch and hazelnut. Introduced as ornamental landscaping trees, Callery pears have become an invasive threat across Virginia. The trees reproduce and spread rapidly, displacing native species in forests, fields and neighborhoods. In addition to causing ecological harm, Callery pears are structurally weak and prone to splitting or snapping during storms. “Invasive plant species tend to outcompete native species, so this effort will support the retention of native trees in the County,” said Rayna Easley, energy sustainability analyst with the Sustainability Division. The initiative is part of Henrico’s commitment to restoring native biodiversity and strengthening the health of local ecosystems. Visit Callery Pear Exchange Registration to sign up. For more information, contact the Sustainability Division at sustainability@henrico.gov or visit Callery Pear Exchange Program.