Callery Pear Exchange Program

Replace up to three of your Callery (such as 'Bradford') pear trees with native trees with this free program from the Virginia Department of Forestry. Preregistration is required and closes March 13, 2026, or when registration is full.

For additional program information and to preregister, please visit the Virginia Department of Forestry website.

 Preregister for the Callery Pear Exchange Program

What is a Callery Pear?

The Callery pear (Pyrus calleryana) is a non-native, invasive tree that threatens native habitats across Virginia.

The Callery pear and its popular cultivars, including the ‘Bradford,’ became a popular urban tree to plant in the 1960s. Following years of widespread use in residential and commercial landscaping, people began to notice unwanted effects: invaded forested areas with thorny trees; stinky, fruit-covered streets; and failing trees in winter storms that risk infrastructure and public safety.

For all these reasons, the City of Fairfax has been working to remove callery pears from our streets and discourage their planting on private property.

Virginia Department of Forestry Tree Exchange Events

The Virginia Department of Forestry (DOF) Callery Pear Exchange program encourages the removal of invasive Callery pear trees by providing Virginia landowners with a replacement native tree. One native tree in a 2-gallon pot will be provided for every Callery pear that has been removed, with a limit of three (3) trees per household. Preregistration is required as a limited number of trees will be available.

The next one-day tree exchange event in Fairfax, VA, incentivizes the removal of up to three Callery pear trees from your property to receive an equal number of native, young, healthy, and free replacement trees. You must be a Virginia resident removing Callery pear trees from your own privately-owned land. The landowner is responsible for all costs incurred in tree removal.

Pickup will occur only on April 11, 2026, at the DOF Fairfax Office (12055 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, VA 22035). Trees not picked up during the pickup window will not be available at another time.

How to Preregister

Preregistration for the exchange event on April 11, 2026, is required as there is a limited supply of trees available. 

After you register:

• Properly remove your Callery pear tree(s). For safety reasons, DOF recommends hiring an ISA-certified arborist for tree removal and herbicide treatment to prevent regrowth. Find a certified arborist on the International Society of Arboriculture website.
  
  
• Take a photo of the removed tree. Ensure the tree is identifiable as a Callery pear (e.g., in flower or close-up shot of buds, leaves, or fruit).
  
  
• Bring your photo of the removed Callery pear tree (on your cell phone is fine) to pick up your replacement tree(s) on pickup day.
  
  
• A variety of native tree species will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

When

Location

Please check the information from the Virginia Department of Forestry regarding the tree pick-up location on April 11, 2026.

Virginia Department of Forestry - Fairfax Office, 12000 Government Center Pkwy, 22035, View Map