The South Bend city council voted 8-0 Monday to approve a ban on the future sale or planting of invasive species in the city limits, including the Bradford pear tree.
The measure fills the gap of 47 species of land-based plants that the state had left off of a ban that it created in 2019 against 44 species.
The South Bend Tribune reported Sunday that many of the plants covered by the city’s ban aren’t sold in garden stores. But the list does cover the callery pear tree, which includes a cultivar known as Bradford pear, along with Norway maple trees, burning bush and the groundcovers periwinkle and English ivy.
All have been known to spread aggressively into local parks.
The city’s ban uses a list of key invasive species identified by the Indiana Invasive Species Council.
The ban, which was developed by the city’s Ecological Advisory Committee and the city’s parks department, will go into effect Sept. 1.
It doesn’t apply to anything that’s already planted. Calling this an educational effort, the committee hopes to create a list of growers and retailers who sell native plants.
In revising city ordinances, the measure also stops certain trees from being planted in tree lawns, not necessarily invasive but trees that create problems for sidewalks and streets, including silver maples, black walnuts and conifers.
1 comment
THIS is the problem they choose to address as South Bend burns down around their ears.
REALLY?
What a bunch of “feel good” lefty morons…