States are banning the foul-smelling Bradford pear tree. Should Tennessee do the same?

They 're attractive, alluring, symbolic of spring — and they smell like rotting fish.

Bradford pear trees are a common sight throughout Tennessee and although they may be aesthetically pleasing, they bring along some unpleasant smells and threaten surrounding ecosystems. The trees are invasive and are included in the Tennessee Invasive Plant Council’s, "Invasive Plants of Tennessee" list.

Some states have taken measures to fight back against the smelly, harmful tree. South Carolina is set to ban the purchase and selling of the trees starting on Oct. 1. According to the Nashville Tree Conservation Corps, a Tennessee non-profit organization which works to protect and preserve the tree canopy in Davidson County, Bradford pear trees are appearing more frequently throughout Middle Tennessee, which begs the question — should Tennessee be the next state to outlaw the Bradford pear?

Below is what we know about the bans, the tree and how to best remove its odorous presence from lawns.

More:Clemson program to help homeowners swap Bradford pears for native trees ahead of ban

Which states have banned the Bradford pear tree?

South Carolina banned the tree due to its status as an invasive species. Bradford pears choke out other plants and pollinate a similar, thornier version of the tree in wild areas, interrupting the feeding habits of the surrounding insects and birds. The trees are also included in the state's "Plant Pest," list.

For those same reasons, it is also illegal to plant, sell of grow Bradford pear trees in Ohio. The trees were banned in 2023 and are also included in Ohio's list of invasive plants.

In November of 2021, Pennsylvania added the Bradford pear to its "Noxious Weed," list, which makes it illegal to propagate or sell the tree in the state.

"Noxious weeds are determined to be injurious to public health, crops, livestock, and agricultural land or other property and cannot be sold, transported, planted, or otherwise propagated in Pennsylvania," said the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.

Legislation to ban Bradford pear trees has also been proposed in Missouri and Kansas.

The Missouri proposal would prohibit nurseries from selling or distributing the Bradford pear along with other invasive species. The Kansas proposal would prevent anyone from bringing a Bradford pear into the state or moving one within the state beginning in 2027.

Although not yet banned in Missouri, the state has taken steps to encourage removal of the tree and replace it with a native one instead for free.

Why are Bradford pear trees harmful?

According to the Nashville Tree Conservation Corps, the trees crowd out native plants and can't host native insects, which presents a problem for bird populations that depend on insects like caterpillars in their diets. This is also detrimental to the area-wide pollination needs of other plants.

The tree's short lifespan causes a shorter generational turnover, allowing for the rapid spread of the tree, said the Nashville Tree Conservation Corps. Additionally, the trees bloom earlier in spring than other plants. As the tree’s leaves open up, they cast a shade below not allowing smaller trees, grasses or other plants to get the sunlight they need to grow, said the Nashville Tree Conservation Corps.

The tree isn't just harmful to the natural environment. They also pose a threat to surrounding residential or commercial properties. The tree's thin, weak limbs are prone to breakage under wind or pressure which can cause injury to people or property.

Why do Bradford pear trees smell so bad?

The rotting smell the tree exudes is to attract pollinators and the unpleasant smell lingers until the white flowers fall off.

Fishy trees:Bradford pear trees might be pretty in spring, but they're invasive - and ugh! that smell

Do Bradford pear trees produce fruit? Why are they everywhere?

Although inedible to humans, Bradford pear trees do produce fruit; which is the reason why so many of them sprout all over Tennessee and the rest of the country.

Birds eat the berries and deposit the seeds across ecosystems. According to the Nashville Tree Conservation Corps, the Bradford pear is a shallow-rooted tree and tolerates most types of soil and water conditions which allows it to survive in different environments.

What are native tree alternatives to Bradford pears?

As the invasive trees continue to spread, they become more difficult to get rid of. However, their spread can be slowed down by replacing them with native species.

Substitutes for Bradford pear trees include:

• Crabapple
• Flowering Dogwood
• Redbud
• Yellowwood
• Red buckeye
• Magnolia
• Plum

How to get rid of Bradford pear trees?

The best way to reduce the spread of Bradford pear trees is to remove them and avoid planting them. The Nashville Tree Conservation Corps recommends that if the tree is small enough and you have the ability and equipment, cut it down and treat the stump with an herbicide to prevent it from re-sprouting.

Once the tree has been removed, you can replace it with a less, smelly and non-invasive tree. Other native tree alternatives include tulip trees and serviceberries.

Diana Leyva covers trending news and service for The Tennessean. Contact her at Dleyva@gannett.com or follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter at @_leyvadiana