The Missouri Invasive Plant Council (MoIP), in partnership with Forest ReLeaf of Missouri, Forrest Keeling Nursery, and the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), is having a Callery pear tree buyback program on April 23, 2024.
Reservation
Reservations for the buyback program opened on March 15th. First, you select your location at this page and go to the form. Next, you submit the form with a picture of your cut down Callery pear tree. Finally, you pick up your tree on April 23rd.
One Free Tree
After you have submitted the form of your cut-down pear tree, you can choose a new tree to get. Each household gets one free tree. West Plains will have Buttonbush trees, KY Coffetree, Pawpaw, Shumard Oak, and Swamp White Oak. [1]
Pick Up
Pick up across the state is Tuesday, April 23, 2024, between 3:00 pm and 6:00 pm. The pick up locations are in several major cities in Missouri. The closest one to Alton is in West Plains.
Callery Pear
The Callery pear tree is an invasive species that presents an ecological concern to Missouri. They usually blossom in early April with the white flowers covering the tree before the leaves do.
