When we think of Finley, many of us think of planting trees, perhaps even a tree we’ve helped plant in Finley’s honor. It turns out, however, that not all trees are created equally.

We’re learning more and more reasons why native trees bring more benefits than non-natives. But a particularly egregious example of a tree to NOT plant is the Bradford Pear. Aside from the fact that the spring blossoms smell like rotting fish, it turns out that they are invasive, displacing native species.

But don’t take it from us! There are many blogs, including this one, complaining about Bradford Pears. For those who want to read a bit more about the science behind the impact of non-native trees on biodiversity, check out this article from Conservation Biology.