The Big Trees Register

In the latest issue, National Register of Big Trees celebrates with over 800 national champion trees. They are found in national forests, parks, private forests and backyards in nearly every state across America. However, you should note that there is a big Western advantage when looking at the top 25 list. A Louisiana baldcypress, ranked at number 6, is the only tree in that top listing located in the Eastern United States.

Most states have big tree or champion tree programs and publish their own lists (I nominated the largest Alabama champion black willow and it stands today). "The competition among states and big tree hunters often is fierce" according to American Forests. "Especially when the title for an official State Tree is held by a different state." These "hunters" are out to dethrone the national trees of record with their own nominations. They even remeasure existing ones to challenge any errors that might have been made.

Eligible trees must be native or naturalized in the continental United States (including Alaska, but not Hawaii). They are listed in Check List of Native & Naturalized Trees of the United States, written by Dr. Elbert L. Little, Jr., former chief dendrologist of the U.S. Forest Service (see my review on his excellent tree id book).

These champion trees are measured mostly by foresters, rangers, or big tree hunters who submit nominations to American Forests or the state big tree coordinators. A free brochure with rules for measuring and nominating trees is available from American Forests or through your state forester.

The hunt is never over because national champs are only the biggest known so far. Every year new champions are crowned as others are dethroned or die. Since the last Register, 115 former champs either died of natural and man-induced causes or were dethroned by another tree. Only 3 of the original 1940 inventory are still alive. They are: Giant sequoia ("General Sherman") Sequoia National Park, CA, Rocky Mountain juniper ("Jardine Juniper") Cache National Forest, UT, Western juniper ("Bennett Juniper") Stanislaus National Forest, CA