Are Chanticlear Pear Trees an invasive tree in Ontario
Thank you for contacting Toronto Master Gardeners. The Chanticleer Pear, also called a Callery Pear (Pyrus callervana ‘Chanticleer’), is on the invasive watch list according to the Ontario Invasive Plant Council’s ‘Grow Me Instead’ document for Southern Ontario. It is invasive in much of the Eastern United States. It is planted widely in urban areas and although it does not produce fruit and reproduce by seed, it does carry diseases that will damage fruiting pear trees. Also, it cross-pollinates with other trees, reducing biodiversity. Removing it is difficult because of re-sprouting.
If you already have a growing Chanticleer tree, especially in Toronto where no commercial fruit trees are grown, there is no reason to remove it. However, you might want to consult with your local municipality if you are outside Toronto. It is best to have a replacement tree in place as soon as possible. Trees provide us with oxygen, sequester carbon, cool the surrounding plants and living spaces, and are ornamental, so removing them requires careful consideration. In Toronto, you must have a permit to remove any tree with a circumference of 30 cm or more (chest height).
Many other small trees bloom early in the spring and are suitable for both urban and rural areas. References bhere will provide lists of native trees. Your municipality can help you determine what trees are best for your location. Many jurisdictions provide free trees through organizations like LEAF. In Toronto you can research ‘Tree Planting’ for a list of native trees the city will plant.
For further research, you may refer to Landscape Ontario and Ontario Invasive Plants.