(NEXSTAR) — There is something idyllic about walking down a tree-lined street, especially in spring when blooms are bursting. It’s why visitors from far and wide flock to Washington, D.C., every spring to admire the cherry blossoms.

There are some blooming ornamental trees that, while impressive, have been found to be menacing to native species. They’re so problematic, officials in some states have issued a bounty for it.

The species, the Callery pear tree, has a complicated origin story in the U.S. Originally imported from Asia in 1909 for the Arnold Arboretum at Harvard University, the tree was again brought to the U.S. a decade later by the Department of Agriculture to help the common pear (a non-native but naturalized species here) develop resistance against a destructive bacterial disease.

Once its ornamental value and hardiness were recognized in the 1950s, the Callery pear was used to develop cultivars, including the Bradford pear tree, according to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. You may be familiar with other cultivars that have since been created, including the Cleveland Select, Aristocrat, and Redspire.

• Closeup of Pyrus calleryana tree in autumn with yellow leaves and tiny pear fruit
• An aerial shot of a Callery pear tree with its white blossoms against a cloudy sky
• Callery pear tree. Rosaceae deciduous tree. White flowers bloom in spring and produce fruits about 1 cm in size in summer. It is designated as an endangered species.
• Dense white blossoms cover the branches of a flowering Callery Pear tree (Pyrus calleryana), an ornamental species introduced from Asia that has become invasive across much of the eastern United States. Known for its striking spring blooms and fast growth, this tree has escaped cultivation and now spreads aggressively, outcompeting native flora and altering natural habitats. Its cultivars, such as the Bradford Pear, were once popular in landscaping but are now discouraged due to ecological impacts. This image serves as a visual reminder of the importance of planting native species and protecting biodiversity for future generations.
• A callery pear tree is pictured on Monday, April 23, 2018. Photo by Natalie Kolb (Photo By Harold Hoch/MediaNews Group/Reading Eagle via Getty Images)
• A Callery pear tree is seen in........
  

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