Baltimore kept an invasive pear as its official tree for 52 years; after Maryland banned its sale, six costumed native trees raced to reveal its replacement, the tulip poplar
The six finalists were the tulip poplar, American sycamore, blackgum, bald cypress, bitternut hickory and overcup oak. (wbaltv photo) For 52 years, Baltimore had the Chanticleer pear, also known as the callery pear, as its official city tree. That changed last month after the city selected the tulip poplar as its new official tree, replacing…