This Is the One Fruit Tree You Should Never Grow

Fruit trees are a beautiful addition to your backyard, providing delicious apples, oranges, and pears that you can bake into pies, mix into smoothies, or transform into garnishes. Most of these trees even have beautiful flowers, wafting a pleasant fragrance throughout your garden.

However, not all fruit trees are the right fit for your backyard. Some can be incredibly invasive and can, in fact, harm your garden and the larger ecosystem. One in particular stands out for being the absolute worst choice.

The Worst Fruit Tree to Grow

Bradford pear trees certainly look beautiful—but that’s where the upsides of this problematic plant end. In most areas, it’s considered highly invasive, and will spread quickly into surrounding areas, outcompeting important native plants.

“On top of that, their blossoms give off a very unpleasant odor, which makes them less than ideal for planting near homes or outdoor living spaces,” says Carrie Spoonemore, co-founder of Seed to Spoon.

There are structural issues to consider too. Their branch structure is weak, Spoonemore notes, so their branches will break easily during a storm. If planted too close to your home, or even in a pathway, this could be a big issue.

Kitti Cooper, the owner of Cooper Farm, compares the smell of the Bradford pear to “rotten fish.” Its pears aren’t edible, either, so there’s no upside in terms of harvests. “If you already have one, I recommend removing it entirely, as they spread aggressively, and are all-around bad for the ecosystem.”

Other Fruit Trees You Should Never Grow

Bradford pears aren’t the only fruit tree you should stay away from. Experts also caution against a few other varieties, like mulberries. While their fruit is delicious, they can be extremely high maintenance.

“They grow fast and produce an abundance of small berries,” says Cooper. “If you don’t keep up with harvesting, the fallen fruit will stain patios, fences, and concrete. Collecting them by hand can be tedious, and the mess is real.”

Cooper advises against persimmon trees for similar reasons, as the fruit will drop quickly. “It’s also tricky to know when to pick them,” she adds. “If harvested too early, they’re bitter—but when fully ripe, they turn mushy and only last for a day or two.”

Finally, while not a “fruit” in the conventional sense, black walnut trees can be especially bad for your garden. “They produce a chemical called juglone, which is toxic to many other plants, and makes it extremely difficult to grow vegetables or ornamentals nearby,” says Spoonemore. “On top of that, the tree itself creates a big mess with falling nuts and husks.”

What to Grow Instead

So what fruit trees should you grow instead? If you love the Bradford pear’s flowers, then there are a few others that also produce beautiful blooms—without being detrimental to your yard.

• Apple: These trees produce beautiful, white or pink flowers that bloom in the spring. The apples are perfect for crisps, pies, and more.
• Peach: There’s nothing quite as romantic as pink peach tree blossoms. In the spring, they put on quite a show.
• Plum: Pink plum tree blossoms are a sight to behold—the sweet fruit is a wonderful treat too.