A 240-foot-tall ponderosa pine, an Ohio buckeye at McDonald’s Hamburger U, and a sycamore with a girth of more than 35 feet are among the 733 trees crowned as national champions in the 2008-2009 National Register of Big Trees. The biennial listing of the largest known trees of 826 species is maintained by American Forests, the nation’s oldest conservation group, and sponsored by The Davey Tree Expert Company.

A new rule this year that trees have to be remeasured within 10 years to remain on the list caused the most sweeping changes in the Register’s 68-year history. A total of 219 new champs and co-champs were crowned in forty-four states and the District of Columbia.



American Forests relies on public participation to find and nominate champion trees; the nominations are then verified by state coordinators and the list updated every two years. Trees receive a point total based on their height, circumference, and ¼ of their crown spread. Trees within 5 points become co-champions.

Topping the list is Sequoia National Park’s “General Sherman” giant sequoia—Earth’s largest living thing and a perennial champ since the first Register in 1940. Standing 274 feet tall with a girth of 1,020 inches and a crown spread of 107 feet, it racks up a point total of 1,321.

The smallest big tree is a Geyer willow on Fort Apache Indian Reservation in Arizona, which stands 13 feet tall with a girth of just 10 inches and a crown spread of 14 feet for a total of 27 points. It’s the first time a Geyer willow has ever been nominated to the Register.

This year Arizona beat out Florida for having the most champs within its borders—94. Virginia had 37 new champs, more than any other state. And Delaware, Hawaii, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, and Wyoming had no champs at all.

Among the notable changes this year: The Seven Sisters Live Oak in Louisiana, a champion since 1976, was dethroned after its co-champ in Georgia was found to be more than 5 points larger. Severe weather toppled two massive trees—the 856-point “Klootchy Creek Giant” Sitka spruce in Oregon and a 563-point eastern cottonwood in Nebraska.

A new sweetgum champ was crowned in South Carolina after a fierce battle between 10 states to take the title. And Ohio lost the title to its state tree—the Ohio buckeye—to Illinois, whose new national champ stands at McDonald’s corporate headquarters, Hamburger U.

     

Information about all the champions can be found at American Forests’ website, www.americanforests.org. Download interesting trivia about the champs, a description of how to measure a tree, a nomination form for new champs, and e-mailable postcards. You also can check out the list of 189 species that are currently without a national champion.

Plant a Future Champion

Not all trees can hold the “biggest” title for their species but they’re all champs when it comes to helping the environment. Trees—especially big trees—provide more cooling shade and more places for wildlife to perch and nest. They sequester more carbon dioxide, trap more pollutants, and clean more of the air and water. For just $1 each, American Forests’ Global ReLeaf Forests program will plant trees where they’re needed most—in forests damaged by wildfire, weather, and man.

Grow Your Own Champion

Give your yard the royal touch—plant a tree with champion bloodlines. American Forests’ Historic Tree Nursery sells the progeny of trees connected to famous people, events, and places. Among those trees: the offspring of two Texas state champs—a bur oak and an Eve’s necklace—and a former champion crape myrtle. To see a list of all available trees, visit www.historictrees.org.

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The Davey Tree Expert Company provides tree, shrub and lawn care, large tree moving, grounds management, vegetation management and consulting services throughout North America. Founded in 1880, Davey has more than 7,000 employees. For more information about the company, access www.davey.com. American Forests’ National Register of Big Trees is sponsored by The Davey Tree Expert Company, which also sponsors American Forests’ National Register of Big Trees Calendar.