5 White Flowering Trees To Plant Instead Of Bradford Pear

The snarl of a chainsaw never sounds sweeter than when slicing through the trunk of a nasty Bradford pear (Pyrus calleryana). As you know, I have railed against the spring-blooming, white-flowering tree for years. It explodes in windstorms; its flowers smell like fish; it grows too big' and thousands of its thorny seedlings now consume roadsides and the woods. It’s also not only invasive but banned in some states because it outcompetes and threatens native species. Some states have even offered replacement programs.

If you're ready to get rid of the Bradford pear in your yard, try one of these alternatives. Many of them are underused in Southern gardens, and they deserve a closer look. They all bloom in spring with white flowers but without the fetid stench of the Bradford pear. Here are five white-flowering trees to replace a Bradford pear.

Alternatives for Bradford Pear

Enjoy the beauty of a white-flowering tree in your yard without the offensive smell. These varieties are good replacements for Bradford pear. They put on a delightful spring display, some are native, and they smell a whole lot better.

Serviceberry

• Botanical Name: Amelanchier spp. 
• Sun Exposure: Full sun, part shade
• Soil Type: Moist, well-drained, loamy
• Soil pH: Slightly acidic to neutral (5.5-7.0)

Serviceberry (Amelanchier sp.) is a native tree with white flowers in spring, blazing orange and red leaves in the fall, and small reddish-purple fruits that taste like blueberries. I have serviceberry in my own yard—it is underused in Southern gardens—and I highly recommend this tree. The bloom time is shorter than that of most flowering trees—three to four days or so—but if you add in the fall color, the delicious berries (just try to beat the birds to them), moderate size (up to 25 feet tall), and lack of pests, that's a winner in my book. Give it fertile, well-drained soil and full to partial sun. Hybrids with particularly splendid fall color include 'Autumn Brilliance' and 'Princess Diana'. This tree is adapted to USDA Zones 4-9.

Carolina Silverbell

• Botanical Name: Halesia Carolina
• Sun Exposure: Full sun, part shade
• Soil Type: Moist, well-drained, loamy
• Soil pH: Acidic (5.0-6.0)

Carolina silverbell (Halesia Carolina) is another Southeastern native tree that you don't see enough in gardens. For the life of me, I cannot understand why. It's easy to grow, attains a moderate size of 30-40 feet tall, and has no serious pests. Snow white, bell-shaped flowers hang beneath the length of its graceful branches in spring. Leaves turn yellow in fall. Give it acidic, well-drained soil and full to part sun. A related silverbell, Halesia diptera magniflora, has even showier blooms. This variety is adapted to USDA Zones 4-8.

Fringe Tree

• Botanical Name: Chionanthus virginicus
• Sun Exposure: Full sun, partial shade
• Soil Type: Moist, well-drained
• Soil pH: Neutral, alkaline (6.0-8.0)

Fringe tree (Chionanthus virginicus)—also known as grancy graybeard or old man's beard—is a Southeastern native tree that gets its name from the clusters of fleecy white, softly fragrant flowers suspended beneath the branches in spring. This is yet another tree we need to plant more—it's tougher than dogwood, more dependable than saucer magnolia, longer-lived than cherry, and smells way better than Bradford pear.

It's usually rounded and multi-trunked, growing 12 to 20 feet tall and wide. Female trees bear attractive blue-black fruit favored by birds. Broad green leaves turn bright yellow in fall. Give it fertile, well-drained soil and full to partial sun. Note that it's one of the last trees to leaf out in spring, so don't give up on it. Until recently, no pests really bothered it, but as it's related to ash, don't plant it in areas infested by the emerald ash borer. It's adapted to USDA Zones 3-9.

White Eastern Redbud

• Botanical Name: Cercis canadensis f. alba
• Sun Exposure: Full sun, part shade
• Soil Type: Rich, well-drained
• Soil pH: Acidic to alkaline (5.0-8.0)

While eastern redbuds may be known for their pea-like purple or red buds, some varieties of this native tree have white blooms, including ‘Texas White’, ‘Royal White,’ and ‘White Pom Poms’. Clusters of flowers cover the branches every spring before the foliage on that and many other trees emerge. Butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds are attracted to their nectar. The tree’s heart-shaped leaves turn blue-green in summer and yellow-green in fall. They grow to 20-30 feet tall and 25-35 feet wide. The eastern redbud needs little pruning and is deer-resistant. It is adapted for USDA Zones 4-9.

Crepe Myrtle

• Botanical Name: Lagerstroemia indica
• Sun Exposure: Full
• Soil Type: Well-drained
• Soil pH: Acidic to alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Crepe myrtles are a popular choice for Southern yards, and there are several varieties with white blooms to consider as a replacement for your Bradford pear. ‘Natchez’, ‘White Chocolate’, and ‘Acoma’ are white-flowering versions. They are classic, deer-resistant, drought-resistant, and they come in a range of heights, from dwarf to tall. Crepe myrtles bloom from July through September and keep a graceful shape as they grow; just remember to be gentle with your pruning. They bloom best in full sun, take a range of soils, are strong, and are easy to grow. They are adapted to USDA Zones 6-9.

Tips for Picking and Planting Trees

If you want even more tree suggestions, there are trees for small yards and additional flowering trees. If you're ready to plant a new tree, do some groundwork on where to plant one in your yard and choose accordingly. Match your preferred planting site to the tree's size at maturity—you may need a small, medium, or large tree—and consider any overhead lines to make sure plants won't eventually interfere with them. Trees can be planted anytime, but planting in the late fall or winter is the best time because they're dormant.

Trees to Avoid

If you're still on the fence about removing your Bradford pear, just know disdain for this tree goes beyond my humble opinion. It's been banned from being sold or planted in South Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Ohio because it's invasive, and more states are considering the measure. In fact, Clemson University's Bradford Pear Bounty project with the SC Forestry Commission offers free native trees to residents who will replace their Bradford pears. Additionally, there are more trees you should never plant, including some with invasive roots systems. They include mimosa (Albizia julibrissin), Eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides), and white mulberry (Morus alba).