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Once considered an up-and-coming ornamental shade tree in the 1950s, the invasive Callery pear (often sold as Bradford, Chantecleer, or Cleveland Select) tree has overtaken roadways, woodlands, and grasslands.  According to the Missouri Department of Conservation, a single wild tree, originating in Asia, can spread quickly by seed and vegetative means, often forming dense thickets within several years and outcompeting native plants. In forested settings, it leafs out earlier than our native trees, effectively shading out spring wildflowers.

To continue to spread awareness about how the invasive Callery pear tree (Pyrus calleryana) causes harm to economics and the environment, Evergy, Deep Roots, and our partners are hosting our second Callery Pear Buy-back in the Kansas City area and Northeast Kansas.

Learn More About Callery Pear & Other Invasives

Missouri Invasive Plant Council

Kansas Forest Service

Missouri Department of Conservation

2023 Event Dates & Locations

April 22, 2023–10:00 am to 1:00 pm
Callery Pear Buyback Event, Earth Day & Native Plant Sale–Lee’s Summit, MO
Metropolitan Community College – Longview
500 Southwest Longview Road, Lee’s Summit, MO, 64081
Lee’s Summit Eventbrite Registration

April 22, 2023–10:00 am to 1:00 pm
Callery Pear Buyback Event–Topeka, KS
Gage Park Maintenance Compound
4320 SW 10th St, Topeka, KS, 66604
Topeka Eventbrite Registration 

May 20, 2023–8:00 am to 11:00 am
Callery Pear Buyback Event and Lenexa Farmer’s Market–Lenexa, KS
Lenexa Farmers Market
17201 West 87th Street Parkway, Lenexa, KS, 66219
*Market hours may differ from event hours
Lenexa, KS Eventbrite Registration

How to get your free native tree when you cut down a Callery pear!

  1. Cut down a Callery pear tree on your property
  2. Register using the Eventbrite link (above) that has a date and location that works best for you.
  3. Email a photo of the downed tree (with a person in it if possible) to hello@deeprootskc.org
  4. Show up to pick up your free tree on the date and time of your chosen event location.

The offer is limited to one native tree (3-gallon pot size, approximately 4 feet tall) per household. Registration is required. 

When you register, you will be reserved ONE native tree. Available varieties and information about each are below. 

Important–Tree availability will be on a first-come, first-served basis. No reservations for specific trees. Trees will be available only during event dates and times. Please show up at the location on your Eventbrite confirmation email. 

Tree Species Available at 2023 events

Click on the species name to learn more about that species (size, color, etc). Images and information courtesy of Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder
Note: White Dogwood will only be available at Lee’s Summit event

Serviceberry (Amelanchier canadensis)

Redbud (Cercis canadensis)

White Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida)

American smoke tree (Cotinus obovatus)

Swamp White Oak (Quercus bicolor)

Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa)

Fragrant Sumac (Rhus aromatica)

Bald cypress (Taxodium distichum)