Callery pear (Pyrus calleryana) is one of the most common invasive species in the U.S. Brought to the U.S. over a century ago to help combat fire blight in the pear industry, every spring it's prolific white blossoms are visible along roadsides, in old fields, and in vacant urban and suburban lots. More recently, Callery pear is starting to encroach into natural and managed forests. Callery pear comes, in part, from P. calleryana cultivars like Bradford, Aristocrat, Cleveland Select, and others. Management is difficult, as Callery pear is covered in strong, woody thorns and forms dense patches that eliminates competing vegetation. On this webinar we'll discuss Callery pear's history, ecology, use in landscapes, and management methods.
Dr. Dave Coyle is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Conservation at Clemson University. His Extension Forestry program focuses on forest and tree health and invasive species management in forests and managed landscapes across the Southeast. Dave is President of the North American Invasive Species Management Association, is on the Advisory Committee for the South Carolina Exotic Plant Pest Council and South Carolina Invasive Species Advisory Committee, and is Co-Director of ProForest (a group focused on preventative management of invasive species) based at the University of Florida. You can find Dave’s forest health outreach work on Twitter (@drdavecoyle) or Instagram (drdavecoyle) where he regularly posts about invasive pests and all things related to trees.
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